A Peel motorist who drove under the influence of cannabis has been fined £1,000 and banned for two years.

Craig Shaun Wade was arrested after a police officer on a motorbike smelt the drug coming from his car.

The 26-year-old has also been ordered to take an extended driving test at the end of his ban.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that the police officer was riding a marked police motorcycle, on April 8, at 7.10pm.

He was travelling between St John’s and Peel, while Wade was coming in the opposite direction, in an Isuzu D-Max van.

As they passed, the officer reported a smell of cannabis, so he turned his bike around and followed.

He stopped Wade on Archallagan Road and described him as looking ‘pale and vacant’.

A drug wipe test proved positive for cannabis and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

At police headquarters, a sample of blood was taken, which was sent to the UK for analysis.

This later produced a reading of 5.3 for cannabis, above the legal limit of two.

The court heard that Wade, of Rowan Avenue, had no previous convictions.

Appearing before Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood on September 15, he was represented by advocate Ian Kermode.

Mr Kermode said that Wade had a stressful job, involving specialist maintenance of commercial vehicles.

He said that cannabis had helped the defendant deal with stress and pressure, but said it had been a significant error of judgement.

The advocate said that the driving ban would impact his client’s family business, as they would now have to employ someone to drive him to the vehicles he was going to work on.

Wade was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs, and agreed to pay both amounts within seven days.