Disgraced former Co-operative Bank boss Paul Flowers has admitted possessing drugs including cocaine and crystal meth.

The Bradford minister, dubbed the Crystal Methodist, appeared before magistrates in Leeds where he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of class A drugs - cocaine and methamphetamine - and one count of possession of class C drug ketamine He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £125 costs.

Flowers, 63, stepped down as the Co-op Bank's chairman in June after claims of illegal drug use and inappropriate expenses payments.

He was also suspended by the Methodist Church and the Labour Party.

The Co-op confirmed last year that it was seeking to recover contractual payments totalling £31,000 made to Flowers amid reports that he was also the subject of an inquiry into ''lavish'' expense claims.

Flowers, of of Hollingwood Drive, Great Horton, arrived at court before the doors had been unlocked, leaving him to stand on the street for five minutes surrounded by photographers and TV cameras.

He said: "Don't ask me any questions because I won't give any answers."

He repeated his description of the mass of reporters and photographers as "vultures" as he stood and endured a barrage of flash photography, eventually saying: "Do you have enough now?"

Court staff opened the doors at 9am and let the pinstripe-suited clergyman into the building.