A cannabis-smoking motorist has lost his licence after cutting in front of a police patrol car while over the legal driving limit for the drug.

Charlie Rickard, 25, was pulled over near the M20 in Ashford after forcing an officer to brake hard to avoid a collision with his Renault Trafic van.

Margate magistrates heard the near-miss happened when Rickard came off the motorway and joined a roundabout, cutting across the path of the police vehicle.

He failed a roadside drug test, and officers who searched his van found three grams of cannabis.

Rickard, of The Street, Oare, near Faversham, was arrested and later charged with drug-driving and possession of cannabis, which he admitted at Margate Magistrates’ Court on October 22.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “He was seen driving on the M20 near junction 9, and as he came off at the roundabout, officers thought the manner of his driving was poor.

“His van cut in front of the officer’s vehicle, and it was careless, and they were forced to brake. He also drove over one lane with no indication.”

She added: “He admitted to officers there could be cannabis in the car, and they found three grams of the drug. He admitted it was his.”

When Rickard’s blood was tested at the police station, he was found to have five micrograms of cannabis per litre of blood in his system - the legal limit is two.

Lewis Holloway, defending, told the court Rickard was a regular cannabis smoker.

He added: “He smokes it to help him sleep, but he had not smoked it on the day; it was the night before.

“He didn’t think he was over the limit that day and was fit to drive, so [his poor driving] was not a result of the cannabis.

“He’s 25 and has no previous [convictions]. The cannabis was for his own use.

“He’s a working male and does bodywork on cars and earns £1,500 a month.”

Magistrates fined Rickard £346 for drug-driving and banned him from the road for 16 months.

He was also fined £230 for possessing cannabis and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £230 victim surcharge.