Wearside drugs bust ends man's clean record
A man blotted his crime-free copybook of 27 years when he was caught with two types of prohibited drugs at a Wearside industrial estate, a court heard.
Paul Conway, 53, was initially detained on another matter at Rainton Meadows, near Houghton-le-Spring, on Friday, March 20.
But a search of a van linked to him then uncovered a small stash of cocaine and cannabis, prosecutor Mariam Odetoro revealed.
Magistrates in South Tyneside were told homeless Conway had no previous drug matters on his record and had not been before a court since 1999.
Ms Odetoro said: “Police were alerted to a report that the defendant had been detained at Rainton Meadows Industrial Estate in regard to another matter.
“They searched the defendant, and they then found a pack of cocaine and a pack of cannabis in the vehicle.
“He has no qualifying convictions and was last before a court in 1999. I ask for prosecution costs and the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.”
Conway pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of failing to surrender to custody.
His solicitor Neil Taylor told the court: “Mr Conway pleads guilty at the first opportunity. He immediately made admissions when the items were found in March
“He is homeless and has no accommodation at the moment. He was arrested on unconnected matters.
“He is now working with some people who are trying to get his ID sorted and his benefits sorted. You’ve heard that he has not been before a court since 1999.”
For possession of class A cocaine, Conway was fined £40, with a £16 victim surcharge. There were no court costs.
Magistrates made no separate penalty for possession of class B cannabis or for failing to surrender to custody.
They ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and described both amounts of illegal substances as “a small quantity.”