POLICE who pulled up behind a Vauxhall Zafira parked in the early hours in a layby in Silsden found two people and a 'crack pipe' in the foot well, heard Skipton magistrates.

A roadside drugs test on Peter Metcalfe, who was in the driver's seat with the keys in the ignition, proved positive, the court was told. He was taken to the police station for a blood test which later revealed he had 32 microgrammes of cocaine in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 10; and 200 millilitres of benzoylecgonine, the legal limit is 50 .

Prosecutor, Melanie Ibbotson, explained benzoylecgonine was a by-product of cocaine that was indicative of use of the drug over a period of time.

Metcalfe, 62, a man of previous good character, who admitted two counts of being in charge of a car while over the drug limit on March 10, told police he had bought the cocaine for £10 to share between himself and his passenger and was an occasional user.

In mitigation, John Mewies said there was no suggestion of poor driving and Metcalfe had been parked in a secluded spot in a layby off Skipton Road when officers had pulled up behind him.

Metcalfe had been a successful fell runner until he had been involved in a car accident in the 1980s which had broken his back. He was still in pain from the injury and took cannabis and cocaine on occasion to relieve it, said Mr Mewies.

Mr Mewies added since March 10, Metcalfe's car had been regularly stopped by police and he had been again tested for illicit drugs, but he had been clear each time.

Metcalfe was not the 'archetypal' drug user and did not take cocaine because he enjoyed it, but because he needed to minimise his pain on occasions, said Mr Mewies.

Metcalfe, of Park Avenue, Hellifield, had his licence endorsed with ten penalty points and was fined £200. He will also have to pay costs of £85 and surcharge of £30.