‘Get a hold of yourself and keep out of trouble’ magistrates tells young Powys drug driver

A young Powys drug driver has been told to ‘get a hold of himself and keep out of trouble’ by a magistrate.

Harvey Percival admitted two drug offences when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 23 year-old of The Rise, Trefonnen was stopped while driving a VW Golf on the A470 at Llyswen on September 26 2025, when he had 16 micrograms of cocaine in his blood, the legal limit being 10ug/L.

He was also found to have 0.42 grams of cocaine in his possession on the same date.

Prosecuting, Mr James Sprunks said on September 26 2025 police stopped the VW Golf while it was being driven on the A470 by Percival.

He was requested to give a roadside drug wipe and it was positive. Tests showed he has 16 micrograms of cocaine in his blood

Officer also found a concealed small snap bag containing a white power and it turned out to be 0.42 gms of cocaine worth about £40 to £50.

Magistrates were told Percival has one previous conviction for one offence, a dissimilar matter of assaulting an emergency worker for which he was given a community order in June 2024.

Mitigating, Mr Gareth Walters said the community order was completed successfully and since his first offence Percival has gained himself a job at the burger factory in Builth Wells.

He said this was a simple drug drive matter and a small quantity of cocaine found.

Chairman of the magistrates, Mrs Ingrid Gallagher said; “You need to get a hold of yourself and keep out of trouble. We do not want to see you in court again.”

Magistrates fined him a total of £800 for the drug driving and drug possession matters. He will also have to pay a £320 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.