A cannabis farm was discovered after an off-duty police officer spotted a man smoking a joint seconds before he drove his car.
Craig Wood was seen smoking the class B drug then getting behind the wheel of his gold Audi one evening in Newcastle city centre.
A court heard that the 48-year-old, who has a number of drug offences on his record, was pulled over and a jar of cannabis bush and some cocaine were found inside his vehicle.
Because of the illegal stash, Wood’s Gateshead home was subsequently searched and seven cannabis plants were discovered, prosecutors said.
A blood sample also revealed he was over the drug limit for driving.
Now, Wood, of Overhill Terrace, in Bensham, has been fined a total of £380 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge after he pleaded guilty to driving whilst over the drug limit, producing of a class B drug, possession of a class B drug and possession of a class A drug.
Rebecca Slade, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said it was around 9.40pm on June 1 this year that the off-duty officer spotted Wood smoking a joint on Pottery Lane, in Newcastle, then getting behind the wheel of his car.
He was pulled over nearby by a uniformed constable.
Miss Slade said: “When asked if he had been using drugs, the defendant replied ‘I will be honest, yes, I was’.
“The…