A man stopped by police in his van as he drove through Luton in the early hours of the morning had on him a wrap of cocaine and a Stanley knife in his pocket.
Officers could also smell alcohol on Martin Stokes and when asked what he’d been drinking replied “A whole bottle of Jack Daniels.”
But Luton crown court was told on Friday, April 30, he refused to provide breath sample and became abusive to the officers.
Stokes, 29 of from Nuneaton in Warwickshire appeared for sentence having been convicted of possessing cocaine, having a bladed article and failing to provide a specimen of his breath.
The court was told it was around 3.50am on October 26, 2018 when officers on duty in Luton noticed the van being driven “erratically” in Cardiff Road and decided to stop it.
Prosecutor Gabrielle McAvock said Stokes’ eyes were glazed and officers could smell alcohol on him. Judge Lynn Tayton QC was told since 2018 Stokes had matured.
Michelle Clarke defending said back then he had wanted to be “one of the lads” but his outlook had now changed.
Judge Tayton sentenced him to six months imprisonment which was suspended for 18 months.
For the next three months he will be subject to a home curfew between the hours of 10pm and 6am and he was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. For the offence of possessing the wrap of cocaine he was also fined £100.
