Paul Flowers arrives at court

Disgraced former Co-operative Bank boss Paul Flowers has arrived at court to face charges of possessing drugs including cocaine and crystal meth.

The minister, dubbed the crystal Methodist, arrived at Leeds Magistrates' Court this morning 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 suited clergyman into the building.

Flowers, 63, stepped down as the Co-op Bank's chairman in June amid 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 Mr Flowers amid reports that he was also the subject of an inquiry into "lavish" expense claims.

He is charged with two counts of possession of class A drugs - cocaine and methamphetamine - and one count of possession of class C drug ketamine, prosecutors said.

A second man, Gavin Woroniuk, 33, of Mitford Road, Leeds, was also charged in relation to the incident. He faces four counts of offering to supply controlled drugs and one count of possession of criminal property and is also due in court today.