DAD Grant Newton has avoided a prison sentence despite being found in possession of cocaine.

The 36-year-old was a passenger in a car driven dangerously by his co-accused David Gilchrist on the A34, Newcastle, at 1.30am on May 24 last year.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday heard police stopped the Peugeot in Clayton Road after a five-and-a-half-mile chase, which lasted seven minutes.

Newton was in the front passenger seat and police found 27.4 grams of class-A drug cocaine in that footwell. The drugs had a five per cent purity with a value of between £600 and £1,200.

Officers found 746mg of cocaine and 885mg of cannabis resin in the defendant's pocket.

When searching Newton's home in Talke Road, Chesterton, they found two CS gas cannisters.

Newton, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing 746mg of cocaine, possessing 27.4 grams of cocaine and possessing 885mg of class-B drug cannabis. He also admitted possessing a prohibited weapon.

Heather Drew, mitigating, said at the time Newton was taking cocaine regularly and his drinking had spiralled out of control. She said he still has a drink problem.

His wife has two jobs and he is a house husband, but is actively seeking work.

She added: "His arrest has had a salutary effect. He has cut out the drug-taking and is managing to cut down on alcohol."

Judge Granville Styler sentenced Newton to six months in jail, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Gilchrist, aged 33, of Mount Street, Northwood, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with excess alcohol, driving without insurance and the theft of a mountain bike. He denied possessing 27.4 grams of cocaine. His pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. He will be sentenced after a report is prepared on him.