A DAD has been fined £270 after he was found asleep in his car with around £80 worth of cocaine.

Derek Lee Wellington, of Nithsdale Road, Ardrossan, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week where he pled guilty to being in possession of a Class A drug.

The court heard that at around 12.10pm on February 5, police officers attended Bellfield Interchange in Kilmarnock following a report of a male sleeping at the wheel of his car and seemingly under the influence of alcohol.

When police arrived, they found 28-year-old Wellington asleep at the wheel and with a white powder on his nostrils and on the front of his polo shirt.

Wellington, who police noted was intoxicated, was informed that he was being detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Officers carried out a search of Wellington’s vehicle and found two grams of cocaine within.

The court heard that Wellington had been asked to leave a nearby hotel following a disagreement and had gone to his car to sleep and had not intended to drive the vehicle.

Wellington’s solicitor David McPherson said: “He didn’t want to go back to the hotel as there had been an argument with his partner.

“When he was younger he had got into some trouble but he’s been out of trouble since 2010. He’s in a relationship and has a young daughter. He’s managed to stay out of trouble for a long period of time.”

Sheriff Shirley Foran told Wellington: “Given the nature of the charge, there’s two things I’d like you to take into account – your job and your daughter.

“How are you going to explain this kind of behaviour to her, that drug use is acceptable?

“Is that the kind of message you want to convey?”

Wellington was fined £270 reduced from £400, to be paid before May 18.