Wisbech man Elvis Arbidans caught driving while double the cocaine limit in Walsoken

A father-of-three who drove while more than double the cocaine limit says he is “seeking other ways to excite his mind”.

Elvis Arbidans, 40, of Wilberforce Road in Wisbech, appeared at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to drug-driving and possession of a Class A drug.

He was stopped in his Ford Focus by police on Burrett Road, in Walsoken, at around 4.05pm on Thursday, July 10, and 0.71g of cocaine was found in his trouser pocket.

Officers arrested him and took him to Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre.

Tests revealed he had 103mcg of the drug per litre of blood. The legal limit to drive is 50mcg.

In mitigation, solicitor George Sorrell told the court that Arbidans, a factory worker, moved to the UK from Latvia in 2008 and speaks “very good English”.

“He was having problems in his relationship with his ex-wife at the time,” he said.

“He had a lot of pressure at home and found some comfort in taking illegal drugs.”

Mr Sorrell claimed that since Arbidans’ arrest, things have “settled down” and “he knows how serious this matter is”.

“He is seeking other ways to excite his mind,” he added.

Magistrates handed Arbidans a 12-month driving ban.

He will also have to pay a fine of £633, a victim surcharge of £253 and £110 in court costs.

The cocaine will be forfeited and destroyed.