A recently jailed Isle of Wight offender was caught driving while unfit through drugs after crashing his car into a bank, damaging the front bumper of his Vauxhall.

Craig Sheriff, of Marlborough Road, Ryde, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, October 8.

The 38-year-old admitted driving a vehicle while unfit through drugs, in Newport, on April 19.

Prosecutor, Lauren McConnell, said police were called to the scene on Arreton Bridleway following a report of a road traffic collision.

She said on arrival, officers found a silver Vauxhall parked nearby which had its front bumper hanging off.

Ms McConnell told the bench the vehicle smelt strongly of a burnt clutch and Sheriff was found in the car, drowsy and slurring his words.

Sheriff mentioned to officers that he might have taken too much of his prescribed medication, and he tested positive for cocaine.

Sheriff, who had 33 previous convictions for 73 offences, was imprisoned for 21 weeks in August after stealing a rubber mallet from a bus station and using it to batter the door to a centre that helps rehabilitate addicts.

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Oscar Vincent, defending, said Sheriff didn’t consume illicit drugs on the day, or the day before, but did take his prescribed medication in the morning.

He had gone on a routine trip to see his parents and couldn’t recall hitting a bank at the side of the road.

Mr Vincent said there was no evidence to quantify the level of impairment.

The court heard Sheriff was released from jail on August 19, out on licence until October 31, and engaging well with probation.

Sheriff was fined £200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and an £80 surcharge.