A 39-year-old man has been disqualified from driving for three years after he was caught behind the wheel under the influence of cocaine in Carshalton.

Paul James, of Hanworth Road, Hampton, Richmond-upon-Thames, pleaded guilty to the driving offences after he was stopped by officers in Middleton Road, Carshalton, in February.

He tested positive for cocaine.

James pleaded guilty to driving whilst unfit through drugs, without insurance and not in accordance with a driving licence, at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 9.

He was fined a total of £240 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Safer Transport officers, who are part of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing unit, are carrying out a summer crackdown on drink and drug-drivers in Sutton.

The Government introduced tougher laws, including roadside swab tests, in a bid to crack down on drug driving last year.