A lifeguard has told a court he had to quit his job after being caught drug-driving.

Jake Oliver Phillips, of Devon Drive, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to driving while over the controlled drug limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, November 6.

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, told the court that officers noticed the smell of cannabis emanating from Phillips’ BMW during a routine stop at 1.30am on Golden Hill Road, Pembroke, on August 5.

Jonathan Webb, defending, said: “He had consumed cannabis earlier the day before, which shows how long cannabis stays in your system. This had been taken, 13, 14, or 15 hours before.”

The bench heard that Phillips, 21, who had no previous convictions, was working as a lifeguard, but had to give up his job as he was unable to get to work without a licence.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £30 surcharge.

He was banned from driving for a year.

The chairman of the bench said: “You have done a very foolish thing and you have to pay the price.”