Driver who left bag of cocaine in back of police car banned for a year

A South Tyneside man was prosecuted for drug-driving after he dropped a bag containing cocaine in the back of a police car, a court heard.

- by Gareth Crickmer

A stock image of a bag of cocaine.

Michael Storey, 37, was pulled over in Lynton Avenue, Jarrow, on suspicion of not having insurance for a Ford Focus on Friday, August 1.

Storey, of Alice Street, near Chichester, South Shields, was placed into the back of the officer's vehicle and gave no sign he was impaired by drugs.

But suspicions were raised when police noticed he had left a plastic bag containing cocaine on the back seat when told he could get out.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said it led to him being drug tested, which proved positive for the prohibited class A drug-and he confessed the bag was also his.