A DRUG driver who got behind the wheel of his employer’s van without a licence was snared by a police officer after they spotted an empty Class A drugs bag in the vehicle.

Joshua Kimpton told Colchester Magistrates’ Court he agreed to drive his employer’s van despite only holding a provisional licence and lacking the necessary insurance.

He was stopped in Alefounder Close, Colchester, by a patrolling police officer.

Sharon Hall, prosecuting, said: “They had a conversation and the officer saw an empty Class A drugs bag in the vehicle.

“He provided a positive sample of saliva, was arrested and taken to the police station where he complied with a blood test procedure.”

Kimpton, 29, of Monkwick Road, Colchester, was found to have 26 mg of cocaine per litre of blood, over the specified limit of 10mg.

Appearing in court, he admitted drug driving, driving without insurance and driving without a full licence.

Ms Hall added: “The vehicle was actually registered to contractors.

“He was interviewed and made full admissions to the offence and said he had taken cocaine a couple of nights beforehand.”

Kimpton was stopped at around 7.15pm on July 4.

Representing himself, he said: “It was a stupid mistake.

“I was working and got asked to take the van back, I told him I had licence and he gave me the keys.

“It was stupid and I accept the full consequences of my actions.

“I could have hurt someone, it could have been a lot worse.”

Kimpton, who works in construction, said he kept himself out of trouble and had been offered another job.

“I have a little girl now and I try to stay at home, come to work and be a family person,” he said.

“I am in the wrong for this.”

Magistrates banned the offender from the roads for 18 months and ordered him to pay £525 in fines and court costs.