A MAN who attempted to steal spirits from a shop and was later found driving under the influence of cocaine was fined and disqualified from driving by Swindon magistrates.

Wesley Thompson, 35, of Burbage Road, pleaded guilty to separate incidents of stealing bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey from a branch of Sainsbury’s and to being behind the wheel with cocaine in his bloodstream.

The first incident took place on December 10 last year, when Thompson was seen by a security guard leaving a shop with several bottles of Jack Daniel's, having shown no intention of paying.

When the guard apprehended him, the defendant accepted that he had not paid, and relinquished the alcohol.

The court was told he had been planning to sell the goods to pay off a debt.

In a separate incident on January 17 this year, Thompson’s Vauxhall Mokka – a courtesy car loaned to his girlfriend while her Motability car was under repair – activated the police Automatic Number Plate Recognition system, and he was pulled over.

Officers recognised an overwhelming smell of cannabis coming from the car.

Tests showed that he had 53mg/litre of cocaine in his bloodstream – the legal limit is 10mg/litre.

At the time of the incident the defendant was a regular user of drugs, taking about £10-worth of heroin per day.

The court heard about how a driving ban would affect not only Thompson, but also his partner as he acts as both her carer and driver.

He said he had now stopped using drugs.

Thompson was told pay costs of £210 to the court, and was given a 12-month driving ban.