A former heroin addict charged with possession of 485 diazepam tablets told a court they were for personal use to cope with a painful medical condition.
Gavin Raine, 36, of Talley Court, Glebe, Washington, was charged after police found the Class C controlled drugs at his address in a raid.
Catherine Nicholas, prosecuting, said: "He was taken to the police station where he confirmed possession of
the drugs and said he purchased 500 tablets for £100 from a lad he was not willing to name.
"He said they were for his own use and not to be supplied or given to anyone else."
District Judge Ridge Elsey, sitting at Houghton Magistrates' Court heard that Raine took 10 diazepam tablets a day to cope with the pain of his sciatica.
Ian Cassidy, defending, claimed his client needed three tablets every night to sleep and went through the pills at a rate of 500 every six weeks.
He said he became addicted after he was given the drug by hospital staff when he was on methadone.
Diazapam is legal with a prescription but illegal without one – their street name is "blueies".
Raine, who walked with a walking stick and a severe limp, stood throughout the proceedings because it was too painful for him to sit down.
The court heard he was cautioned twice in 2009 and once in 2008 for possession.
Judge Elsey said: "You knew that possession of this drug was illegal and you knew that you ran the risk of conviction.
"You have previous convictions so I cannot overlook this matter with a conditional discharge but you did plead guilty so I will deal with you by way of a fine."
Raine admitted possession of a Class C controlled drug and was fined £85 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
