A 32-YEAR-OLD man from Mitcheldean, has pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court to a series of serious driving offences.
Kevin Long from Parks Road, was charged with driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and driving under the influence of drugs.
The offences took place in August last year when Long was stopped by officers from the Forest of Dean Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The routine stop occurred on High Street, Mitcheldean, as Long was behind the wheel of an Audi A4.
During the stop, officers conducted standard checks on the vehicle and its driver, which uncovered that Long was driving whilst disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence.
In addition to this, further checks revealed that he was driving without the required third-party insurance, a key legal requirement for any motorist.
The situation was further compounded when it was discovered that Long had a controlled substance in his system. A blood test revealed that the level of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active compound in cannabis and was significantly above the legal limit,
Long appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, March 18 where he pleaded guilty to all charges.
The court adjourned the case to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will provide additional context to the offence before sentencing.
Long is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Tuesday, May 20.
The authorities have made it clear that Long's actions were not only illegal but incredibly dangerous.
Driving whilst disqualified, without insurance, and under the influence of drugs significantly increases the risk of accidents and harm to both the driver and others on the road.
Local police forces remain committed to taking strong action against individuals who break the law in this way and continue to prioritise road safety across the region.