A pensioner from Stow has avoided going to jail after being found with three different illegal drugs in his system.

A judge told Richard Carter, 70, he was behaving “like a juvenile delinquent” at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Carter, of Bartletts Park, was stopped by police after officers received numerous calls about the erratic manner in which a Ford Fiesta was being driven.

District Judge Nicholas Wattam said: “You are a man of 70 years of age.

“You are persistently behaving like a juvenile delinquent with regards to your criminal behaviour.

“I find this remarkable.

“I have seen a list of your extensive previous convictions and you are still at it.

“I understand that there were three different drugs in your system when you were driving, meaning you were intoxicated, which aggravates the situation.”

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Prosecutor Jenefer Davies explained that on August 2 last year Carter was stopped by police close to the Costa Coffee car park on Triangle Way in Gloucester and he failed a roadside drugs swipe.

A search was made of his car and 1.03grams of cannabis were found inside the vehicle.

“Carter admitted to the police that he had been smoking cannabis prior to being stopped by the police," said Ms Davies.

“When Carter was searched a further amount of drugs was found on his person. This included 3.28grams of cocaine and 1.04grams of cannabis,as well as 3.87grams of MDNA, commonly known as Ecstasy. They are all Class B drugs and a blister pack of Diazepam, a class C drug, was also found.  "

Carter, who was not legally represented, explained to the judge that he had a friend with him when he was arrested and that she left when the police arrested him.

Carter stated that the drugs did not belong to him, but accepted he was found in possession of them.

He admitted he was guilty of all eight charges and added: “I have no excuses. If the drugs were found in my system, then I am guilty. It’s my own fault.”

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The judge questioned Carter over his long-standing drug habit and he replied that he suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that taking these drugs takes the edge off his condition.

Judge Wattam said: “These offences cross the custody threshold, but because of your caring responsibilities I am not sending you to prison today."

The judge sentenced Carter to a 16-week prison term, suspended for 12 months and banned him from driving for three years.

Carter was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a mandatory surcharge of £154. The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all the drugs.