A MINIBUS driver who hid cocaine in Kinder chocolate eggs was caught when he was stopped by police at the wheel of his vehicle, a court heard.

Officers found the class A drug in bags inside the eggs above the minibus windscreen when they stopped it in Strangford Road, Seaham, east Durham, last June.

The driver, Joseph Darren Spurr, was carrying £214, which was seized, and a small amount of cannabis resin was also recovered during a search at his home.

Durham Crown Court heard that Spurr admitted having the drugs for his own use and said he bought the cocaine for his birthday.

Andrew Finlay, mitigating, said Spurr's cocaine habit had increased to relieve pressures from work and home, where he helped to look after his one-year-old son, while his partner was unwell.

Mr Finlay said he had lost his job as a courier, due to a decrease in the workload, and was now steering clear of drugs by avoiding the company he used to keep.

Thirty-two-year-old Spurr, of Brooklyn Terrace, Seaham, admitted possession of class A and B drugs.

The prosecution agreed not to proceed with a more serious charge of possessing the 6.16g of cocaine with intent to supply.

Judge Richard Lowden told him: "It was a lot of cocaine you had on you on that particular occasion and it wasn't doing you any good.

"But I'm glad to hear you have stayed off it for at least a number of weeks."

He issued a combination order of 100 hours community punishment and 12-months community rehabilitation under the supervision of the probation service.

Spurr was also ordered to pay £150 costs, on top of the £214 that was confiscated by police.