A PROVISIONAL licence holder and former heroin addict caught driving with no insurance cover and cocaine, appeared before an Isle of Wight court.

Police, alerted to a car suspected of smelling strongly of cannabis, stopped Michael Leigh Phillips on Mayfield Road, East Cowes, on the evening of June 4.

Under on the spot search laws, police found a very small amount of cocaine and Phillips was arrested. He said the drugs were his for his own personal use, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Jobless Phillips, 38, of no fixed address, was subsequently fined £240 and had his provisional licence endorsed with six penalty points after he admitted possessing cocaine and driving a car without a licence or insurance.

In doing so, Phillips also broke the terms of a conditional discharge for a public order offence.

For Phillips, Barry Arnett said: "He was out with a number of people and was marooned. He shouldn't have taken the decision to take the car. It wasn't his.

"It was reported there was a smell of cannabis from the vehicle, which was a surprise to him as he had not smoked it — nor is there any suggestion he was under the influence of drugs.

"Nevertheless, the car was stopped and, straightaway, he said he told officers he had some cocaine in his possession.

"He two previous convictions for drugs possession in 2012 and 2016, but he has got himself clean of heroin.

"He used to have a heroin addiction, but his mental health has deteriorated. He suffers from psychosis, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"He breached the terms of a conditional discharge."

Magistrates also ordered Phillips to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.