An Isle of Wight man took a chance driving a friend's car with no licence — and while more than 14 times the drug-drive limit.

Produced at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (5), following his arrest for not appearing last Friday, Matthew Blanchard admitted drug-driving, with cocaine derivative BZE in his blood, and having no licence or insurance, on February 22.

Police conducted a stop check on a Fiat Punto — flagged up for no insurance — on Ryde Esplanade at 6pm.

Jobless Blanchard, 48, sitting in the driver's seat, got out of the vehicle, with key in the ignition, and told the officer it was not his Fiat.

Police then discovered Blanchard had an expired provisional licence and no insurance to drive it.

A roadside drugs swab was conducted on Blanchard, which proved positive, and he was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving, said Ann Smout, prosecuting.

Blanchard, of no fixed address, co-operated fully with the procedure at Newport Police Station and provided the police with a blood sample which, when analysed, revealed a reading of 708 microgrammes of BZE.

The legal limit is 50.

Blanchard's previous convictions includes failing to provide a specimen for analysis in 2010, plus a drink-drive in 2001. He received disqualifications for both.

There were no passengers in the Fiat and there was no suggestion of poor driving, said Mrs Smout.

For Blanchard, Jim Osborne said his client deeply regretted the offence, stating he does not normally drive following his experience of being banned in 2010.

"He stopped driving completely and normally uses a push bike to get around — but on this particular occasion, because he had been out of work for so long, and a friend had offered him work in Sandown he borrowed the car to get to work," said Mr Osborne.

"He deeply regrets his actions, but he has nowhere to live and sofa surfs with his friends. He is in dire straits financially — and that's why he took the chance to drive the vehicle."

Magistrates banned Blanchard from driving for 12 months and fined him £160, with £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.