A MAN has been banned from driving after he was caught driving under the influence of drugs.

Tony Davis, formerly of Timor Close, Popley, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs and taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.

He was in the dock at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Nick Barr told the court that CCTV operators noticed a car parked in Jacobs Yard service area, off Timberlake Road, Basingstoke, at around 3am on Saturday, February 28.

After leaving the car, Davis walked to London Street where he spoke with two people before returning with “a couple of drinks”.

Police were called and officers caught up with Davis on the ring road.

When they breathalysed him, a result of 26 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath was recorded.

Following the breath test, police then arrested the 25-year-old on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

A urine test carried out at Basingstoke police station showed that Davis had cannabis and mephedrone, a Class B drug, in his system.

Mr Barr said that the owner of the car had parked it on her drive at around 5.30pm on the previous evening and went to bed at around 10.30pm.

She was woken up by police the next morning who told her that the car was taken by Davis.

She told them that she had left the keys on the kitchen side but did not give permission for Davis to drive the vehicle.

Craig Matthews, defending, told the court that Davis had driven the car as he was asked by his friend – one of the two people insured to drive the car – to drive the vehicle home as he was not in a fit state to do so.

Mr Matthews added: “He [Davis] said he had recently split up with his girlfriend.

“He accepts that during the bad patch with his girlfriend, he has taken drugs.”

Magistrate Anne Willmer ordered Davis, now of Rolls Road, Southwark, to be disqualified from driving for 12 months.

She also ordered him to pay £180 in fines and a £20 victim surcharge.