A DRIVER has been banned from the roads for a third time after being caught with drugs in his system while behind the wheel.

Scott Montrose was initially disqualified in 2011 for drink driving. He returned to the court in April this year, when he was banned for three years for failing to provide a specimen of breath.

On Friday, the 26-year-old was given a concurrent three-year ban for driving with more than seven micrograms of tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, per litre of blood. The limit is two.

He committed the offence on March 31 this year - around two months after he failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis, but before he was sentenced for that offence on April 9.

Police pulled the defendant's Peugeot over in Magna Road.

Montrose, of Donhead St Andrew, Shaftesbury, admitted drug driving at Poole Magistrates' Court.

James Moore, mitigating, said the defendant had spiralled into anxiety and depression after being accused of a serious offence.

Police investigated, and no further action was taken against Montrose.

"He developed a drug addiction for escapism," Mr Moore said.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.