A WOMAN who was caught drug driving on the M6 in Cumbria was using cannabis because she was “deeply affected” by a social media campaign, a Carlisle court was told.

Emma Jenkinson, 32, admitted driving while over the limit for the active ingredient of the class B drug.

Magistrates heard that she was caught at 8.30pm on January 25 as she drove a Ford transit on the motorway near to Southwaite. At the time, she had was just over three times the limit for cannabis.

She has no previous convictions.

Defence lawyer Chris Toms told the city’s Rickergate court: “Miss Jenkinson is heavily involved with animals and has been the subject of a social media campaign which has deeply affected her stress wise.

“This has led to her taking cannabis as a way of relieving the stress. I do not think she will trouble the courts again. This has been a terrible experience for her.”

Magistrates told Jenkinson, of Gomersall Avenue, Conisbrough, near Doncaster, that she will have to pay a £120 fine, with a £48 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

She was given the minimum 12-month ban.