A man was caught sitting in a BMW with the engine running after smoking cannabis. Mohammed Sarfraz has been handed 10 penalty points on his licence after he was caught in charge of a vehicle when over the legal limit for cannabis.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 31-year-old also gave officers a false name before coming clean.

Prosecutor Helen Shipley said police were in Red House Crescent, Longton, at 10.45am on June 18 and walked to a small car park near the junction with Greendock Street.

Miss Shipley said: “In the car park was a stationary BMW. The officer’s could hear the engine running. The defendant was in the driver’s seat. He was the only one present. The police asked him to lower the window.

“They could immediately smell a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car. He was asked to turn the engine off. He was asked if he had a licence. He said, ‘No’. He turned off the engine and got out of the vehicle. He was searched.

“He was asked his name. He said, ‘Kasser Hussain’. He was asked if he had any drugs on him. He said, ‘a joint’. It was a bit of cannabis. They found it in a bag on the passenger seat. In that bag they found a driving licence and passport which related to him in his real details.

“He provided a blood sample which gave a reading of not less than 7 micrograms of THC, the cannabis breakdown, per litre of blood, against the legal limit of 2. He admitted having the cannabis for personal use.”

In his police interview, Sarfraz said he was addicted and was trying to get help for that addiction. The court heard Sarfraz was a disqualified driver at the time.

Sarfraz, of Suffolk Road, Lightwood, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle with drugs over the legal limit; possession of a class B drug; and obstructing a police officer.

Colin Drew, mitigating, said Sarfraz pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Mr Drew said: “He accepts he is addicted to cannabis. He has been trying to overcome that addiction. He puts it to me this way, ‘It has ruined my life’.

“He was sitting in his car. He had smoked cannabis. He did give the wrong name but within literally five seconds he gave his correct name.”

Magistrates fined Sarfraz £200 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £80 surcharge. They ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.

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