A MAN has been fined and disqualified from driving after being found driving without a licence and in possession of cocaine and a weapon.

On Saturday, September 23, Joseph Melia was pulled over by police after being found to be driving along Marshalls Cross Road while already disqualified from driving.

Upon further inspection, officers found that the 63-year-old was driving without third party insurance and with a proportion of a controlled drug, Benzoylecgonine, which was above the legal limit.

Mr Melia, of Stephenson Road in Newton-le-Willows, was also found to be in possession of a "small self seal bag of cocaine" and a "police style friction lock baton".

READ > Police explain call-out to Millennium Centre

Following a guilty plea to all five offences in February, Mr Melia was sentenced at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates Court on March 25.

For driving whilst disqualified and without insurance, the 63-year-old was fined £350.

For driving with controlled drugs in his system, he was fined £500 and disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Mr Melia was also charged £100 for the possession of cocaine and £500 for the possession of the weapon.

He was also given a two-year Serious Violence Reduction Order for the weapon offence, meaning that he can be stopped and searched by police to see if he is carrying a bladed item or offensive weapon.

Mr Melia was also ordered to pay £120 for costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a surcharge of £580.