Toronto mayor admits he smoked crack cocaine

Rob Ford says he used drug "probably a year ago" in "drunken stupor", but refuses to resign.

The allegations that the mayor had been caught on video smoking crack surfaced in May [Reuters]

Toronto's mayor, Rob Ford, has admitted for the first time that he smoked crack cocaine when he was in a "drunken stupor", an admission that immediately intensified the pressure on him to resign. The allegations that the mayor of Canada's largest city had been caught on video smoking crack surfaced in May. Ford initially insisted the video did not exist and sidestepped questions about whether he had ever smoked crack. He was forced to backtrack after police said last week they had obtained a copy of the video, which has not been released publicly. "Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine," Ford said outside his office, adding it was "probably a year ago". "There have been times when I have been in a drunken stupor. That's why I want to see the tape. I want everyone in the city to see this tape. I don't even recall there being a tape or video. I want to see the state that I was in." Ford walked out of his office and asked journalists to ask him the question they first asked him in May. He acknowledged he smoked it but said: "Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors a year ago." Ford previously apologised for excessive drinking and other mistakes, but has resisted pressure to step down. He had sidestepped questions about whether he has ever smoked crack until now. Police have said the video, which has not been released publicly, does not constitute enough evidence to charge the mayor with a crime. Police spokesman Mark Pugush said Ford's acknowledgement of crack use will be passed on to investigators.