AN UNEMPLOYED man who caused a crash because he was not paying attention is now one point away from losing his licence.
Sam Smith, 20, of Teal Avenue, Mayland, pleaded guilty to one count of driving his Peugeot along Maldon Road in Goldhanger without due care and attention on September 9.
At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday (December 11), he also admitted having three small wraps of cocaine.
Police spotted him driving carelessly and pulled him over and breathalysed him, but he gave a negative sample.
It was only when officers searched his car they discovered the Class A drugs.
Lorraine Hardy, defending Smith, told the court: "It was a negligible amount of drugs that were for personal use.
"He is hugely embarrassed to be before the court and was very co-operative with police and apologised at the scene and wishes to apologise to the court."
Smith had been driving for two-and-a-half years when the incident happened, is seeking work, and has been offered a job with his father in the double-glazing industry.
Chairman of the bench Paul Jee said: "This is a very worrying offence in the sense that it is possible that cocaine may have been taken.
"We are not going to make that assumption, but obviously having the drugs in the car is a factor that exacerbates the seriousness of the offence.
"This was an error of judgement, but nevertheless you did cause an accident. You will have to drive very carefully over the next few years."
He was given eight points on his licence by magistrates, which means he now has 11 in total, fined £150, ordered to pay £85 towards the cost of the prosecution and a victim surcharge of £20.
An order was also made for the drugs to be seized and destroyed.
