AN Ellesmere Port drug-driver has been banned from driving after his car hit a bus near a police station.

Steven Duncan, 28, of St Andrews Road, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to drug-driving and careless driving when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 25.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said it was about 1pm on July 10, 2021 when Duncan was leaving the Shell petrol station in a Renault Captur on Whitby Road, and was turning right into the direction of the police station.

Traffic was queuing and Duncan pulled out into the traffic, into the bus filter lane, into the path of an oncoming bus.

The resulting collision moved Duncan's car a short distance, where it collided with a Vauxhall.

Members of the public went over to the scene to help.

Police had heard the collision and also arrived at the scene.

Duncan had "a number of injuries" to the upper body and face. He told police he had been waved out by other road users in the first lane but had not seen the bus in the second lane.

The bus driver had bruising to the lower abdomen.

Duncan was drug tested and it was found he had a cocaine breakdown product in his system.

He had two previous convictions for two offences, but nothing similar on his record.

Magistrates banned Duncan from driving for 18 months and fined him £120, plus £85 in court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.