A dad-of-two caught with a knife in his Mercedes after he was spotted on CCTV taking cocaine has avoided prison.

Charlie Atkin was pulled over by police in The Strand, Deal, after camera operators alerted police to the suspected drug taking.

Tests showed the 35-year-old bricklayer was over the legal driving limit for both alcohol and cocaine, while officers found a three-inch lock knife when they searched his car.

Several wraps of the Class A drug and a wad of cash were also discovered.

Atkin, of Mill Hill, Deal, admitted possession of cocaine, possession of a bladed article, drink-driving and drug-driving when he appeared before Folkestone magistrates last month.

But he had to wait until Tuesday to learn his fate after sentencing was adjourned for probation reports.

The court was told Atkin had been spotted taking cocaine and showing a “white substance” to a friend outside the Walmer Castle pub in Deal on March 3 this year.

Ahead of sentencing at Margate Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Elizabeth Evans said: “He was sitting in the car but got out.

“The CCTV operators then saw him go into another pub, The New Inn, and they continued to watch.

“Then he was seen outside the pub with some friends and showed them a white substance, and he then returned to his car and the police were called.”

Atkin drove off and travelled the wrong way down a one-way street before being stopped in The Strand by a patrol car on blue lights.

He told officers he had just bought cocaine, and was found to have six packets weighing a combined 3.51 grams, along with a quantity of cash. The knife was found in his car.

Tests showed he had 45 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of his breath - the legal limit is 35.

He also had 78 micrograms of cocaine by-product benzoylecgonine in 100ml of blood in his system - the legal limit is 50.

Lainy Snook, defending, said the prosecution’s case was not disputed by Atkin, who has three previous convictions.

She added: “He had gone out for a friend’s birthday and had intended to only have a few drinks, but after two his old habits returned.

“He bought the drugs at the pub and it was an impulse to drive, and the consequence is a ban.

“The lock knife he had found in a car park months ago and he put it underneath the console and it was locked away; he had forgotten about it.”

Mrs Snook said a driving ban would impact Atkin’s ability to see his two children, including a son who lives in Romford.

She said he started “binge-drinking” after separating from the boy’s mum and “didn’t cope well” after she and his son moved to Essex.

On his offending, she added: “He has shown remorse and has let himself down.

“He’s a self-employed bricklayer by trade and has a five-year contract in Ashford, but I suspect he will lose that contract as it’s difficult for him to get to work.

“He’s not used drugs since the incident and he has also reduced his drinking. It’s been eight years since he’s been in trouble.”

Magistrates told Atkin they would not be sending him to prison, and instead imposed a high-level community order.

They told him he must complete five rehabilitation sessions with probation, attend an accredited programme requirement for 26 sessions, and wear an alcohol abstinence tag for 90 days.

They also banned him from driving for 32 months and ordered he pay £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.