A DEALER was caught with a stash of drugs when police pulled him over for a routine traffic stop.
Daniel Tindle started acting suspiciously when officers stopped him in his VW Golf in Washington and his behaviour led them to his illegal haul.
Police found 29 small plastic bags of cocaine, more cocaine in a separate package, £330 in cash and a small amount of cannabis.
Prosecutor Katheryn Dunn told Newcastle Crown court: “When the officers spoke to him they noticed he appeared to be nervous and was fiddling with something in the driver’s door.
“A police constable opened the door and found a plastic bag with 29 individual bags of white powder inside which was analysed and found to be cocaine.”
The court head Tindle had £100 in the pocket of his hoodie and a further £230 in cash stashed in a compartment under the steering wheel.
Text mesages on his phone showed he had been dealing cannabis and he admitted he had bought the cocaine in bulk for himself but would have sold some on to other users.
The 28-year-old, of Coach Road Estate, Washington, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.
Recorder Jonathan Bennett sentenced him to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision and 100 hours’ unpaid work.
The judge said the sentence has been suspended because Tindle has made efforts to kick his cocaine habit since his arrest and has now become a father.
John Wilkinson, defending, said: “This has taught him how much he has to lose.”