A MOTORIST was over the limit for ecstasy a week after taking it at his birthday party.

Alexander Richard Willcox had been partying with friends for his birthday the week before he was pulled over by police.

Sergeant Martin Bainbridge of the mobile support unit stopped Willcox's Honda Civic after a check revealed the car wasn't insured.

A breathalyser test was negative but suspecting Willcox was under the influence of something else he carried out a drug wipe test which was positive for cannabis.

Willcox was arrested and provided a blood sample which revealed his cannabis level was under the limit but he was over the limit for Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy).

At South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Wednesday prosecutor Diane Jackson said: "At 2am on August 25 Sergeant Bainbridge was driving in Queens Drive in Windermere and did a PNC check on the defendant's vehicle which showed it had no insurance.

"He stopped the vehicle, a breath test was negative but the officer believed the defendant's driving was impaired so carried out a drug wipe.

"Although the blood test detected cannabis it wasn't over the limit but ecstasy was."

Willcox, who works in Windermere but gave his address as Hibbert Drive in Essex, said: "I smoked a joint at 10pm and fell asleep on the sofa.

"It was my birthday the week before and we went out and had a a party.

"I would never have thought a week later ecstasy would still be in my system and over the limit.

"When the results came back my heart just stopped.

"For it to come back under the limit for cannabis was a shock to me.

"Ecstasy isn't something I'm proud of doing. I do smoke marijuana on a daily basis because it helps with depression and anxiety.

"A ban will be an annoyance because I drive a motability vehicle to get my dad in and out of hospital."

Willcox was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £400. He was also told to pay a £40 victim surcharge and £85 court costs at a rate of £200 per month.