Driver stopped twice for cannabis offences

Burnley magistrates were told how mechanic Nasir Zafar (20) was pulled over by police in Leeds Road, Nelson. They had stopped the vehicle the previous day.

Zafar was searched but nothing was found on him. The car smelled of cannabis and he was arrested. The defendant had no previous convictions but had received the penalty for possessing cannabis the day before.

Zafar, of Guildford Street, Brierfield, admitted driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, on November 17th. He was banned for 12 months, fined £110 and must pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The court was told the defendant gave a blood test which showed 2.8, when the legal limit was two micrograms. Zafar told the hearing :” I was sitting in the car with my friend. He was smoking cannabis.”