HEROIN addict Neil Martin decided to go out on his motorbike to buy cannabis to help him sleep, even though he had a 30-year history of driving while banned. But as Martin, 50, was riding through his home town of Soham, heading towards Ely, the bike engin

HEROIN addict Neil Martin decided to go out on his motorbike to buy cannabis to help him sleep, even though he had a 30-year history of driving while banned.

But as Martin, 50, was riding through his home town of Soham, heading towards Ely, the bike engine blew up and he was stopped by police, a court heard.

Officers discovered 6.3 grammes of cannabis on Martin and he told them he was disqualified from driving.

On Tuesday, Martin, of Centre Road, Soham, admitted driving while disqualified, no insurance, no test certificate and possessing cannabis resin. A charge of driving without a licence was withdrawn.

Ely Magistrates' Court heard that Martin had several driving disqualifications going back to 1975.

Mitigating, Jim Dignan, told the court that Martin was taking part in a drug intervention programme in a bid to beat his heroin addiction.

He was finding it difficult to sleep and the cannabis helped, he said.

Mr Dignan added that Martin decided to ride his motorbike although he was disqualified until October 2009.

He told the court: "From his record of driving while disqualified it may be very tempting to see this case as a man sticking up two fingers to the court and the only option would be custody. But he was sentenced in January to a community order and he has been doing well with that and the drug intervention programme."

Magistrates adjourned the case until July 25 for a pre-sentence report and Martin was granted unconditional bail.