FORMER soldier Ian Andrew Harvey bought ecstasy tablets, hoping they would ease his physical and financial problems.

Blackburn magistrates heard he was seen acting suspiciously in the Paradise nightclub and was searched and arrested before he could take the four tablets he had purchased that evening.

Harvey, 25, of East Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of ecstasy. He was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Ian Huggan, defending, said Harvey had left school with seven GCSEs and had served an apprenticeship in engineering before joining the army when he was 22.

While in the force he suffered a serious injury to his knee and was now awaiting replacement surgery.

"Having worked all his adult life he is now in receipt of benefits and as a result of his injury and the shortage of money, not surprisingly, he suffers bouts of depression," said Mr Huggan.

"He was offered the ecstasy tablets and accepted because he thought they might take away his troubles for a while. Unfortunately, due to his appearance in court today, it has added to them."