A man who was caught drug driving five times in five months has been banned from getting behind the wheel for four years.

Shane Rawles, of Clarence Road, Benfleet tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine each time he was stopped by police between July and November last year.

The 39-year-old was disqualified at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on February 27, 2018 and was also sentenced to nine weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £365 costs and to complete a six month drug rehabilitation programme.

Rawles was arrested at Nethermayne, Basildon on July 1, 2017 after officers stopped the Audi car he was driving just after midnight. A roadside drugs test revealed him to be driving under the influence of both cannabis and cocaine.

A roadside test showed him to be under the influence of both drugs again when he was arrested in Park Mill Close, Stanford-le-Hope at 5.40pm on September 20, 2017. He was also later found to be carrying both cocaine and heroin.

Police stopped his Audi car again eight days later in London Road, Pitsea following concerns for the manner in which it was being driven. Again Rawles provided a sample that was positive for both cocaine and cannabis.

Rawles was arrested for the fourth time after failing a roadside drugs test in Rippleside, Pitsea at 10.50am on October 6, 2017.

Four days later he was arrested again after his car activated an ANPR camera in the Benfleet area. A drugs test revealed him to be under the influence of both cannabis and cocaine and to be in possession of cocaine.

Rawles was charged with 10 counts of drug driving (five cocaine and five cannabis), two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of heroin.

Investigating Officer Pc Simon Newman from the Southern Roads Policing Unit said: “The length of disqualification given by the courts highlights the seriousness of Rawles’ offending. A driver who is a danger to the public has now been removed from the roads for four years. I only hope he takes this time to get the support he needs for the future.”