A RAVER who spent £400 a month on drugs has been banned from clubbing at the weekends by magistrates.

Ryan Lee Gilbert, 19, of Victoria Terrace, Cockfield near Barnard Castle, admitted three charges of possession of Class A and B drugs when he appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court today.

A charge for possession of a lock knife was dropped after Gilbert's employer said he legally had the blade for work.

Prosecutor Alison Nunn said police found 6.9g of cocaine and 3.7g of cannabis on Gilbert when they searched him in April.

Officers then found 55.7g of amphetamines in a draw in his bedroom.

John Turner in mitigation said Gilbert had been using drugs for five years as part of his lifestyle going to raves.

Mr Turner said his client spent up to £400 a month on drugs which he would take at the weekend.

He said: "Being arrested has been a dreadful fright for him and he has already started to retreat from his former drug use."

Mr Turner said Gilbert had less money to spend on drugs since he lost his job in August.

The court heard Gilbert is from a "respectable" background and his family is supporting him.

Magistrates gave Gilbert a six month community order and four weekend curfew restricting him to his home from 7pm to 7pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Chair of the bench Glynn Wales said coming to court could be Gilbert's salvation.

He said: "In the short term you might not think drugs are doing you any damage, in the long term they can ruin your life."