Hilgay man Valentine Agafonov handed ban and fine for driving after using cannabis

Magistrates told a man to use ordinary medication "most normal people do" after he was convicted of drug-driving.

Valentine Agafonov, 29, of Bell House, High Street, Hilgay appeared at Lynn Magistrates' Court on Thursday, pleading guilty to driving with 4.1 microgrammes of cannabis per 100ml of blood in his system - the legal limit being 2 microgrammes per 100ml.

Prosecuting, Penina Giffen said police's attention had been drawn to Agafonov's vehicle due to information they received about its driver being somehow involved in controlled substances.

He was stopped on the A10, close to South Runcton, and officers could smell cannabis. They also noticed that Agafonov's eyes were heavily bloodshot.

A roadside blood test came back positive, and Agafonov was arrested and taken to the station - where a further blood test also came back positive.

In mitigation, George Sorrell said there were two issues with the prosecution.

The first, Mr Sorrell said, was that: "This is the first driving offence that the defendant has been convicted of."

The second, he added, was the fact that Agafonov had been taking cannabis as a form of medication at the time of the incident.

Agafonov works in construction and had sustained ligament damage to his right hand during the course of that work, according to Mr Sorrell.

Agafonov showed his hand to magistrates, with several of his fingers bent out of shape.

Mr Sorrell said: "To overcome that pain he suffers in doing work, he sought some comfort in cannabis.

"That is the extent to his involvement in drugs. The fact of the matter is they (police) didn't really have any reason to stop him apart from their misguided belief in his involvement in drugs."

Agafonov was also unable to work as much as he would have liked last year, according to Mr Sorrell, and had been preoccupied taking care of his mother after she sustained back injuries.

"She describes him as giving enormous help and as a good son," Mr Sorrell added.

Magistrates proceeded to fine Agafonov £100, as well as ordering him to pay a £40 victim surcharge and £105 in legal costs.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Lead magistrate John Hare said he believed Agafonov should "stick to normal medication", which is "what most normal people do".