WHEN police stopped a vehicle for having insufficient tyre tread, they discovered the driver was under the influence of cocaine and cannabis.

It led to a court appearance in front of Island magistrates for James Robert Haigh, 39, of Well Street, Ryde, yesterday (29).

He admitted driving a Renault Traffic with a tyre with insufficient tread on November 18, and driving with a proportion of cocaine and cannabis in his blood above the specified limits.

Ann Smout, prosecuting, said police officers on patrol stopped him as they could see the front offside tyre had no tread.

They quickly suspected Haigh was under the influence of drugs — and blood tests proved this.

Henry Farley, representing Haigh, said cocaine was not usually part of Haigh's lifestyle but someone had given him some and he felt fine while behind the wheel.

He said Haigh suffered a heart attack in December and since then everything had changed. He had been working as a roofer but was now a full-time father, and drugs were no longer part of his life.

Mr Farley said: "There has been a sea change in his fortunes and in his life."

Magistrates fined Haigh £390, with £85 costs and a £39 surcharge.

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months.