Sunderland drug user with cocaine in sock given jail warning
A Sunderland drug user who hid cocaine in his sock has been warned he could go to jail if he doesn’t pay his fines.
Liam Johnson, 36, of Leechmere Way, Ryhope, placed his stash of the prohibited class A substance down low after being given it at a party.
It was found after he was arrested at another city address on Sunday, February 22, and taken to a police station and searched, prosecutor Holly Clegg said.
But magistrates in South Tyneside were told a bigger issue was his £3,500 debt to the courts from previous offending matters.
They heard he was making no efforts to pay it off – and warned he faces being jailed for 28 days unless he starts to cough up.
Of the offence, Ms Clegg said: “Police attended for an unrelated incident where the defendant was located, and he was arrested.
“He was taken into police custody and in his possession was found class A cocaine.
“He has 30 previous convictions from 42 offences, and he was last before the courts some time ago, it was in 2022 for breach of a restraining order.
“He has no similar offences on his record. The starting point for class A drugs is a fine and the crown would apply for the forfeiture and destruction of the cocaine.”
Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of drug possession.
Chris Wilson, defending, said: “Whilst the defendant has an antecedent history, he has no previous convictions for drug related matters.
“He had been to a party and was given the drugs by another, and he put it in his sock. The drugs were for personal use.
“I ask the court to afford maximum credit for the early plea of guilty. He apologises for any inconvenience caused. He recently lost his employment.”
Magistrates told Johnson they were stepping outside their sentencing guidelines by not fining him, due to the amount of money he owes.
They instead sentenced him to a six-month conditional discharge, with a £26 victim surcharge.
Dorothy Gibson, chair of the bench, said: “You must pay your fines. If not, you’ll be back before the court and could go to prison.
“It 28 days in jail if you don’t pay your fines.”