A man who became the first person in Kent charged under new drug-driving laws has been banned from the roads for a year.

Alex Young appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court and was fined £300.

The court heard the 23-year-old was stopped and arrested in Queen's Avenue, Maidstone in March 3.

Young, who works as a croupier in London, was found with 2.3 micrograms of cannabis in his system. The legal limit is 2 micrograms.

Under new laws which came into force on March 1 - just two days before Young was stopped - there are now set limits for a number of illegal and prescription drugs.

Police are enforcing the new legislation by using roadside impairment tests and new drug-testing equipment.

Young originally entered a not guilty plea as he believed he was on a course of powerful antibiotics at the time. But toxicology reports showed the course ended well before the time of the offence. He subsequently changed his plea.

Defending, Matt Nicholls, said his client led an unusual lifestyle due to his employment. He starts work at 8pm and finishes at 6am.

He told the court: "He would sleep during the day, which as you know is impossible most of the time. He began using drugs recreationally and would smoke on an occasion with friends.

"At the time of the offence he was suffering from severe tooth pain after a procedure and found the use therapeutic."

The court heard on the day he was stopped Young, of Victoria Drive, Kings Hill, returned home from work around 6.30am and smoked with friends before falling asleep.

Mr Nicholls added: "What is unclear is whether friends kept smoking while he was sleeping - we have to think about passive smoking.

"Clearly those who smoke cannabis fall foul of new legislation. Cannabis leaves residual traces in the system, the more habitual user will feel fine to drive but it will still be in their system."

The court was told Young stopped smoking cannabis at 6.30am and was arrested at around 4pm the same day.

Mr Nicholls said he wasn't stopped due to the quality of his driving, but because the car had been flagged up to police in the past.

He added: "We are dealing with a morning-after offence here. It has been a huge learning curve for him. He has been humiliated by the whole court process. He was the first person in the county to fall foul of the legislation. It was reported and his family all now know about this.

"His work have given him no guarantee he can keep working there. He has been instrumental in telling his friends about how long it can stay in your system, he has told them all to stop smoking and he is extremely remorseful."

During the short hearing Young stood in the dock and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge. He will also have to take a driver rehabilitation course.