A would-be drug importer has admitted bringing £6,000-worth of cocaine to the island on the ferry.

Ross Michael Charlton was arrested at the Sea Terminal where police found the drug in a jacket in the car he was driving.

The 43-year-old admitted the importation charge as well as one of possession with intent to supply and will be committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing on May 10.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that Charlton, who lives at Lodge Road, Fleckney, Leicester, was getting off the Ben My Chree on March 5 at 6am, having travelled from Heysham with a silver BMW.

He was stopped by port security and police, acting on information received, and said that he was here to visit family.

The BMW was searched and five wraps of what was suspected to be cocaine were found in the pocket of a jacket in the back of the car.

Charlton was taken to police headquarters where he was strip searched and a further wrap containing white powder was found.

A test by police confirmed that the drug was cocaine and it was said to weigh 60.4 grams in total, valued by police at £6,040.

During a police interview Charlton said he had come to the island to visit his son.

He claimed that he had originally intended to use a different car but after issues with it said he had used the BMW.

But he claimed that he did not know the identity of the BMW’s owner.

He said he had found the jacket in the back of the car and put it on at one point because he was cold.

Regarding the cocaine wrap found during the strip search, Charlton claimed he had found it in the driver door pocket and panicked when he saw police so he had put it in his pocket.

He denied any knowledge of the drug previously.

Charlton was represented in court by advocate Deborah Myerscough who said that he wanted an adjournment to allow time to instruct Stephen Wood going forward.

However, High Bailiff Jayne Hughes refused the application for an adjournment, saying that Charlton had already appeared in court twice previously, on March 7 and 10, so there was no reason why he should not be in a position to enter a plea.

He then entered guilty pleas to production of a class ‘A’ drug to the island and possessing it with intent to supply.

Bail continues with conditions that he live at probation accommodation Tromode House, and not leave the island without court consent.