DRUGS were found on a man caught driving without a full licence.

Police pulled Andrew O’Neill over in Hamlet Drive, Colchester, on January 22 and found he only had a provisional license, no insurance and had a small amount of cannabis in a bag.

After searching O’Neill’s home in Barkstead Road, Colchester, they also found amphetamine.

When he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday, O’Neill admitted driving without a licence and insurance and two counts of possession of a Class B drug.

Richard Murrison, prosecuting, said: “Officers noticed he was going at some speed and was in a vehicle they were interested in.

“He tried to make off and was eventually pulled over in Hamlet Drive.

“He initially gave a false name but eventually gave his own details.

“When he as asked why he was trying to make off, he told them he thought they were trying to race him.

“Officers found cannabis in a draw string bag by his feet and a search of his address resulted in 12 bags of amphetamine being found.”

Shade Abiodun, mitigating said: “He knows it was foolish and he should not have been driving.

“He wanted to go and see his sister and made the stupid decision to drive.

“He forgot the amphetamine was at his house.”

O’Neill, who mistakenly made his way to the witness box instead of the dock when he appeared in court, was fined £200 for possession of the drugs.

He was handed six penalty points and fined £150 for driving without insurance and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

There was no separate penalty for driving without a licence.

Magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.