A DJ who played music at a funeral has blamed mourners smoking cannabis for him being caught drug driving. 

Romel Mallick failed a roadside drugs wipe for cannabis after being stopped at a wheel of a Renault Clio in Norwich on April 16.

Appearing before Norwich Magistrates’ Court, the 38-year-old, of Alderman Road in Ipswich, said it was in his system due to “passive smoking”.  

“I don’t smoke cannabis and If I’d known it was in my system I would never have driven,” he said.

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Representing himself he told magistrates he was a professional DJ and had been playing music at a funeral for a “member of the Windrush generation”.

“I did not smoke cannabis, it was inhaled involuntarily from being in a small confined area. I have been put in a very tricky situation.”

He said losing his licence would impact on his employment.

Magistrates approved a prosecution application for an adjournment for the case to be reviewed. 

He was given unconditional bail until a hearing on February 4 next year.