A VICTIM of assault, whose downward spiral saw him caught with cocaine in a public toilet, has appeared in court.

Rodney Phillip Travis, of Green Street, Ryde, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old admitted possession of cocaine, on February 25 of this year.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court police had been called to Ryde seafront at 6.10pm.

She said they were responding to a report of people taking drugs in a public toilet.

After a search, they found a small wrap of cocaine in Travis's possession.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Travis had made full and frank admissions at the earliest opportunity.

The court heard how Travis had told police he had been going through a rough time, which Mr Vincent said was an understatement.

He said Travis had been a victim of a serious assault in his own home not long before the incident.

Mr Vincent said the assault caused him to lose his accommodation, and when he later found temporary accommodation at Calverts Hotel in Newport, he was attacked again.

He said the string of events sent Travis on a downward spiral and caused him to relapse, but he had shown rapid improvement since February.

Invited to speak, Travis told the magistrates he did not want to go down the same road again.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £22 surcharge.