A DRIVER was stopped by police because he wasn't wearing his seatbelt — and then he tested over the drug drive limit for cannabis.

Robert Collins, 26, of Fairlee Road, Newport, admitted drug driving at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said Collins was stopped on Great Preston Road in Ryde on January 31. A drug test showed his cannabis level was 2.9 when the legal limit is 2.

She said he wasn't stopped due to any impairment of driving, but because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Michael McGoldrick, representing Collins, said Collins had been under some peer pressure to smoke cannabis at an event and hence it was only a low reading.

He had always been strict about not drink driving, Mr McGoldrick said.

Collins, on JobSeekers' Allowance, was given a 12 month ban from driving, a £50 fine, £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.