THREE drug-diving convictions from the North Yorkshire Police area have been overturned in connection with a criminal investigation at a testing lab, it has been revealed.

Two men were arrested in 2017 over allegations of what the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) called “data manipulation” at Randox Testing Services (RTS) - a company which provides forensic toxicology investigation. The men remain on bail.

More than 10,500 cases could be affected by the investigation, and more than 2,700 retests have already been carried out, which led to more than 40 criminal convictions being quashed, the NPCC confirmed on Thursday.

North Yorkshire Police said in 2017 that 493 local cases, mostly drug-driving motoring offences, would need to be retested due to the data manipulation allegations.

The force has now revealed that 206 of the 493 local cases had been sent for a retest to date and three convictions regarding driving while under the influence of cannabis had been overturned so far as a result.

Out of the 206 local cases sent for retesting, 15 had an insufficient sample left to retest, 52 were returned with the same outcome - positive, but perhaps with a different figure - and 15 had “a varied outcome” - meaning the level of cannabis in the sample was now under the legal limit, but other drugs were still over.

A total of 71 were returned with “full negative” results, while police are still waiting for retest results from 53 cases. There are currently no live cases at court.

Three convictions were overturned, including a 27-year-old man from York who was convicted at York Magistrates’ Court on November 25, 2016, after admitting driving while over the limit for cannabis in Bland Lane, Knapton, on October 3, 2016.

He originally received a 12-month driving ban and was ordered to pay £85 court costs and £30 victim surcharge. The case was reopened and the charge was withdrawn on March 1, 2018.

A 23-year-old man from York was convicted of driving while over the limit in Ostman Road, York, on December 14, 2015.

He was dealt with at York Crown Court on May 13, 2016. The appeal came back as not guilty on April 13, 2018.

A 22-year-old man from the Hutton Rudby area was found guilty at a Northallerton Magistrates’ Court trial on December 23, 2016, for driving while over the limit after being stopped at Stokesley on August 15, 2016.

He received a 12-month driving ban and was ordered to pay a £180 fine, £150 court costs and £30 victim surcharge. The appeal was allowed on March 7.

A force spokesman said: “This serious and widespread issue is continuing to be addressed at a national level, and we are doing absolutely everything we can locally to support that national effort.”