An Isle of Wight man told a court he was six times over the drug drive limit on New Year's Day because he had spent time around people smoking cannabis.

David Graham, of Queens Court, East Cowes, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to drug driving.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said police received a tip-off that the 57-year-old had been spotted smoking cannabis before getting behind the wheel of his Ford Transit on January 1.

Ms Miller told the court officers saw Graham turning off Staplers Road onto Godric Road at 2.20pm and stopped his van.

Graham admitted he had smoked cannabis, before testing positive in a roadside drug test.

A further blood test at Newport Police Station showed Graham was six times over the legal cannabis limit.

Unrepresented in court, Graham agreed he was over the limit at the time of the police stop but claimed it was not due to him smoking cannabis - it was people smoking around him.

Graham admitted he had been ignorant of the fact cannabis stays in your system for a long time.

Magistrates handed Graham a 12-month driving disqualification and ordered him to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.