A man who had hidden cocaine in his pants during a night out started “sweating profusely” when police questioned him.

Toby Scales, from Ramsgate, was spotted by officers in a patrol car acting nervously around the harbour area of the town.

After they stopped him, the 20-year-old became agitated and kept touching his groin area.

When no drugs were found on him, he was told he would need to be taken to Ramsgate police station for a strip search.

But as that was about to happen, he told officers he would get it out of his “b***s” and handed a bag containing cocaine over.

Scales, of Gwyn Road, Ramsgate, was later charged and admitted possession of a Class A drug when he appeared in the dock at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Magistrates heard he was stopped by police at about 11pm on Saturday, February 3.

Victoria Aked prosecuting said: “He was sighted by officers in the harbour area acting nervously so they decided to stop their vehicle and detained him for a stop and search.

“He kept touching his groin area and he was agitated and sweating profusely and was told he would be taken for a strip search at Ramsgate police station.

“When that happened he said: ‘Ok, I will get it out of my b***s, my trousers.’

“It was a snap-bag containing cocaine. There was 7.2 grams of it, including the packaging.”

The court also heard that during interview Scales admitted he took the drug frequently.

Magistrates were told Scales, who is autistic, had been given a caution for possession of Class A drugs last year.

Defending himself, he said: “It was for personal use. I was going out on a night out down the town.”

Magistrates told Scales they had taken into account he had a warning for the same thing last year. They said he now had a criminal record, the matter was very serious and told him to get on top of his cocaine use.

The bench fined him £120 for the offence and ordered he pay a victim surcharge of £48 as well as £85 costs. They also ordered the drugs be destroyed.

As Scales is on benefits he will pay what he owes the court at a rate of £20 a month.