A MAN's love of cannabis landed him trouble with the law on Valentine's Day.

Michael Hoare was spotted by police driving erratically at around 10pm on Church Lane in Guisborough and when police pulled him over they could detect a strong smell of cannabis.

Teesside Crown Court heard how a search of Hoare's car resulted in the discovery of cannabis and a knife was found stashed in the door pocket.

A roadside drug test showed he was over the limit for both cannabis and cocaine, said Paul Cross, prosecuting.

The 60-year-old, of Aislaby Court, Guisborough, pleaded guilty to two charges of driving over the drug limit, possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed article.

Michele Turner, in mitigation, said Hoare had taken the drugs the day before but he had to accept the results of the roadside test.

She told the court how Hoare use of cannabis was 'entrenched' and it isn't something that he can rectify on his own and he maintained that the knife was only in the car to open his car's broken glovebox.

Judge Jonathan Carroll passed a four month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, he also banned him from driving for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

"You were driving when you were in no fit state to do," he said. "Whatever I think, and I have read in your pre-sentence report what you think, you thing you were fine to drive. And you won't give up drugs until the day you decide to do so."