THE SON of former health secretary Patricia Hewitt was fined �250 after admitting buying a cube-sized lump of cocaine. Nicholas Hewitt Birtles, of Rochester Square, was arrested when police saw him throw a plastic bag of white powder from a car window n

THE SON of former health secretary Patricia Hewitt was fined �250 after admitting buying a "cube-sized lump" of cocaine.

Nicholas Hewitt Birtles, of Rochester Square, was arrested when police saw him throw a plastic bag of white powder from a car window near his Camden home.

The 21-year-old's solicitor Anthony Burton said: "As far as drugs are concerned he is not a regular user. He is a recreational user and on this occasion he purchased this small quantity of cocaine and as found through the test, used some of it.

"As far as his family are concerned he does, through me, apologise to them publicly."

Prosecuting Emily Maunders told Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (September 30), how police spotted Birtles sitting in the passenger seat of a car in Camden Square on the evening of September 19.

She said: "As officers approached the door the defendant threw something out.

"It landed on the ground. It was retrieved and found to be a blue and white plastic bag.

"The defendant admitted it was cocaine."

Birtles pleaded guilty to possessing a class A drug and was fined �250 and ordered to pay �85 costs and a �15 victim surcharge.