A support worker entrusted with the care of two extremely vulnerable adults stopped to buy cocaine while driving them on a day out.

Blackburn magistrates heard Thomas Brindle then snorted a line of cocaine in the car.

Before driving off he turned to the people in his care and said: "Remember snitches get stitches."

Brindle, 33, of Jackson Street, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months with 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 180 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £154 victim surcharge.

District Judge Alexandra Preston described the incident as "shocking."

"During your employment you were expected to keep these vulnerable adults safe and look after their welfare," said District Judge Preston. "You chose instead to drive a motor vehicle while you were on drugs.

"It is clear to me you stopped to buy drugs and then took them while you were working and while you were entrusted to keep them safe."

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the details of the incident came from a female colleague of the defendant's called Lauren. She had witnessed the events of the day and had tried to persuade the defendant not to drive after he had snorted the cocaine in front of her.

Brindle and his colleague had picked up the two users of the service provided by the company they worked for. One of the users was blind, deaf and non-verbal and the other was autistic, non-verbal and a severe epileptic.

Lauren said the defendant was behaving in a very unprofessional manner, talking about prostitutes and driving erratically.

At one point one of the users became vacant in his expression which was usually a sign that he was going to have a seizure.

"Lauren asked the defendant to take them all home," said Miss Mills. "He took a different route and on the way took a phone call. He then said they were making a quick stop."

Brindle pulled over near Hyndburn Leisure Centre and when another car pulled alongside he got out, taking the car keys with him."

When he returned a few minutes later Brindle took out a bag of white powder and used a rolled up five pound note to snort it.

"She told him he shouldn't be driving but he said she couldn't and then made the comment to the two passengers about snitches getting stitches," said Miss Mills.

"She remained silent because she didn't want to aggravate him but as soon as they got back reported the events to her manager who called the police."

Brindle eventually produced a drugs wipe which was positive for cocaine. At the police station he was difficult with the officers and refused to provide a sample of blood for analysis.

Miss Mills said Brindle had initially been arrested for the refusal and two charges of wilfully neglect of those in his care. Those offences had been dealt with by way of a caution.

"The matter is significantly aggravated because he was supposed to be caring for the people in the car," said Miss Mills.

"At the very least he was under the influence of cocaine although we will never know if that was all because he refused to provide a sample."

Brindle told the Probation Officer who prepared a pre-sentence report that at the time he had a cocaine habit and was buying £30 worth two or three times a week. He claimed to have been fully abstinent from drugs since the offence in May.

Brindle, who was not represented, said he regretted everything he had done and that he deserved to be punished.

"It was stupid and something I will never do again," he added.