POLICE officers were hit with a ‘strong smell of cannabis’ after pulling over a motorist in Weymouth, a court heard.

Daniel Ballard, 27, was driving his Honda Accord on Saturday, July 4, 2020 when he was spotted by police officers.

Ballard, of Chapelhay Heights, Weymouth, was pulled over on Buxton Road after the police ANPR system alerted officers his vehicle was without insurance.

Prosecuting, Andrew Newman, told Weymouth Magistrates’ Court officers observed there was a ‘strong smell of cannabis’ and Ballard failed a roadside drugs test.

He said: “At 10.38pm, police saw this Honda. It had no insurance, and they pulled over, spoke to the driver and there was a strong smell of cannabis.

“A drug search was carried out and a drug was found in his pocket. He carried out a roadside test and he failed it.”

Tests showed Ballard had 5.9 micrograms per litre of blood of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid identified within cannabis in his system. The drug limit for cannabis is two micrograms per litre.

He admitted driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit.

Mitigating, Des Reynolds, noted that Ballard fully co-operated with police.

He said: “The circumstances are that he purchased this vehicle the day before, arranged temporary insurance but this was not in the police database. There is no evidence of erratic driving.

“Police smelled the cannabis and he voluntarily said he had cannabis. It has been a strong lesson.”

He added Ballard, who lost his job at a pub in April 2020 due to the pandemic, had used cannabis to ‘self-medicate’ to treat his ADHD, but has realised this is not an effective or legal way to do this.

Mr Reynolds said: “To his credit, he realised it is not a good thing to do and he undertakes a drug programme via Zoom three times a week and is seeking help.

“He tells me he is clear of drugs, receives support for ADHD and is looking to start a new job.

“This would be a blow to him if he were to lose his licence.”

Magistrates said they were pleased that Ballard found a new job and wished him well – but issued him a 12-month driving ban for driving under the influence of cannabis.

Ballard was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £34 victim surcharge and costs of £45.