POLICE who investigated a motorist whose driving had "caused concern" found that he had used cannabis and had an axe and a craft-knife in his car.

Carlisle's Rickergate court heard that James Andrew Gordon Campbell, 36, used cannabis to control pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

George Shelley, prosecuting, said police became aware of the defendant after reports that his Nissan was seen driving erratically on the A66 near Penrith, slowing down and speeding up. Police located him in a layby at Kemplay, asleep in the driver's seat.

"He appeared intoxicated and there was a strong smell of cannabis," said Mr Shelley. A check confirmed that the defendant has only a provisional licence.

A test also confirmed he was over the limit for a cannabis breakdown product.

Defence lawyer Chris Toms said the knife and the throwing axe found in the defendant's car were tools he used while fishing.

He told the court: "This defendant is a very troubled man. He suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis and had done so since his mid-teens.

"He has already had several joint replacements and lives in a world of constant pain.

"That has affected him not just physically, but mentally as well. There have been at least five [hospital] admissions for attempted suicide in the last few years. The diagnosis refers to bipolar disorder and depression. He takes a large quantity of pain relieving drugs... and he also used cannabis for pain relief."

The lawyer added that the defendant had been on his way to help his sister, who had suffered a breakdown. There was no "nefarious" intent behind his possession of the axe and the craft knife, though he accepted they should have been removed from the car.

The defendant, of Pickworth Road, Great Casterton, admitted four offences, all committed on October 3 last year. They were: possessing cannabis, driving while over the limit for cannabis; driving in a way not allowed by his licence (given that it was provisional and he was unsupervised) and two counts of possessing a bladed article - the knife and the axe. He will be sentenced on August 19 so that background reports can be prepared.