(Image: The Northern Echo)

A Darlington driver was caught behind the wheel after taking cocaine.

Darren Hutchinson received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, at Durham Crown Court, on June 26, having admitted charges of drug driving, driving other than in accordance with the licence and without insurance.

The offences came to light when police stopped Hutchinson in a Peugeot in Stephen Court, Darlington, on August 19, last year.

He tested positive for cocaine and a cocaine breakdown product.

As part of the sentence, Hutchinson was also ordered to attend ten rehabilitation sessions with the Probation Service.

But the 45-year-old defendant, of Cumberland Street, Darlington, was back before the court on Wednesday (September 23), having failed to attend some of the probation sessions.

He admitted breaching the order and the suspended sentence imposed in June.

Judge Nathan Adams said a Probation Service report showed Hutchinson had made “a poor start” and was warned about his compliance.

“That warning seems to have given him the kick start he needed, and he has now bucked his ideas up and is responding.”

Addressing Hutchinson, Judge Adams told him: “I won’t activate the suspended sentence today.

“I would have if you had not got your act together with the Probation Service.

“Keep that going, otherwise you will still have that three-month prison sentence hanging over you.”

Adding two further rehabilitation activity sessions to the order, Judge Adams added: “Clearly there’s work that needs doing with you and so the breach can be marked with those two extra dates.

“Treat this as a final warning.”