A MAN caught carrying cocaine worth £4,200 in his car has been given a 180-hour community punishment order.

Durham Crown Court heard that almost 43 grammes of the drug, which was 17 per cent pure, was discovered in packets concealed in Leslie Stoker's Citroen when it was pulled over by police at Tow Law, County Durham.

David Scutt, prosecuting, said that the officers also found £180 in the car's dashboard and that a search of his home uncovered self-sealing bags similar to those that were found containing the drug in his car.

There was also lactose, which analysis revealed was mixed in with the cocaine powder, he said.

Mr Scutt said that in interview, Stoker denied "cutting'' the drug and said he was holding the cocaine for someone else, who he declined to name.

He said he was on invalidity benefit of £180 a fortnight and had been paid £100 for storing the drug.

He also told police he done it before and was frightened of the man he was holding the drug for.

Gavin Doig, in mitigation, handed a pre-sentence report, medical letters and an employer's reference to Recorder Geoffrey Hyland.

Stoker, of Bradley Close, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

The Recorder told him that although it was a serious offence, he was prepared to deal with him in a "non-custodial manner".