A SPEEDING motorist caught driving at up to 125mph on the M56 in High Legh was also over the drug drive limit when stopped by police.

Robert John Harries, of Queens Park in Mold, Flintshire, pleaded guilty to four charges when he appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Monday, February 15.

45-year-old Harries had been witnessed by police driving his Audi S3 at speeds ranging between 85mph-125mph on the eastbound carriageway of the motorway at around 7.40pm on August 10 last year.

He was stopped, given a positive roadside swab, and after providing police with a sample of his blood, it confirmed he was over the drug drive limit for both amphetamine and cocaine.

Harries was also over the drug drive limit for benzoylecgonine, which is the main metabolite of cocaine.

He was banned from driving from 20 months, fined £120 and will also have to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £34.

Chief Inspector Rob Dickinson, of the Roads and Crime Unit, said: "Speeding and driving under the influence of drink or drugs are both extremely dangerous which is why they are part of the five driving offences we consider to be the most dangerous to every road user.

"They both affect your reaction time, making it harder for you to respond to hazards and correctly judge the speed and distance between you and other vehicles.

"All of this means that you are more likely to be involved in a collision.

"Thankfully, on this occasion officers were able to stop Harries before the situation escalated, and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

"However, the outcome could have been very different, not only for Harries as the driver, but also for his family and innocent members of the public.

"At Cheshire Constabulary we are committed to making our roads safer, and we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to achieve this goal.”

David Keane, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: "People are well aware that both speeding and driving under the influence of drugs are both incredibly dangerous, yet we still see motorists take to Cheshire’s roads after taking illegal substances or travelling well above the speed limit.

"The reality of both is clear, with potential life changing consequences that will have far reaching impacts on many families.

"As police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, road safety has always been one of my top priorities, and as this case demonstrates appropriate action will be taken against those who break the law."