THE smell of cannabis coming off a driver pulled over in the early hours of New Year’s Day resulted in him being convicted of drug driving.

Swindon magistrates were told police discovered Guglielmo Rossi had cocaine in his system when they did a drug wipe test on him after the stop in Marlborough Road.

Rossi, 34, of Devizes Road, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of driving with 450 mgs of benzoylecgonine and 53mgs of cocaine in his blood. He also admitted possessing cannabis.

Prosecutor Nick Barr said police stopped him at 1.15am and noticed the smell of cannabis. They asked him if he had any drugs on him and searched his Peugeot.

Rossi handed over three bags containing cannabis and a drug wipe tested positive for cocaine.

He added the defendant was convicted in 2013 for possessing drugs with intent to supply and possession of a firearm.

Gordon Hotson, defending, said Rossi, who works in the construction industry, got a call from a friend who was coming round to his house and because parking in his road was difficult he decided to move his car out to make space. He was just about to pull out when his friend called to he went back in.

“That manoeuvre was spotted by police and they thought it was a little odd and they spoke to him,” he said.

The cannabis was a small amount and was for personal use while the cocaine and benzoylecgonine had been in his system for several days after he had last used the drug.

Magistrates heard he had been released from prison in October 2014 and had complied with the terms of his licence, turning up for appointments and learning about victim empathy and thinking skills.

He had also been given permission to visit family in Italy.

Rossi was banned from driving for a year and fined a total of £280 with £85 costs and £30 towards victim services. The magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.