A MARTIAL arts instructor who was caught with more than £900 worth of cocaine has been spared jail - to carry on teaching children in his karate club.

Howard Bowlt was told by a judge he had come close to prison, but was saved by his voluntary work and several glowing references.

The 42-year-old was instead given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for a year, with a supervision order and was told to carry out 60 hours of unpaid community work.

Bowlt was also warned by Judge David Bryant to continue seeking help to overcome his cocaine addiction, and told to pay £578 in costs.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that Bowlt would spend about £375 every week to ten days for a half-ounce of cocaine for himself.

When his house in Hartlepool was searched on May 26, last year, police found 18g of the drug with a street value of £910, as well as a small quantity of cannabis.

Bowlt, of Jesmond Road, admitted possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, and possessing a class C drug.

Simon Reevell, in mitigation, handed the judge references from former employees and associates that talked of Bowlt as an outstanding, respectable member of the community and a likeable person.

Some of the testimonials told how Bowlt had worked with many underprivileged children and taught youngsters martial arts at the Hartlepool Kids Combat Club.

Judge Bryant said: "Having read the impressive collection of documents which have been put before me, saying a lot of very good things about you, it seems to me that this is an appropriate case to suspend the prison sentence."