Sunderland serial criminal caught carrying drugs

Lee Bowdon, 45, of Swan Lodge, High Street East, who has dozens of court convictions resulting from more than 100 offences, was seen acting suspiciously near the former Vaux Breweries site in the city centre.

Bowdon, described as a regular dog walker in the area, was discovered carrying amphetamines after he was questioned by police officers and charged with two more offences.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “He was spoken to by the police and arrested and found with amphetamines.

“CCTV was subsequently checked and found that the defendant had interfered with the camera by moving the bracket so that the camera could not show what it should have shown.

“He was shown still images. He said that he grabbed it and thought that it was a light and couldn’t see in the dark.

“He revealed that it was £2 of amphetamines for personal use but wouldn’t say where he got it from.”

The court heard Dowdon has 46 convictions from 119 previous offences.

Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “He is someone who occasionally uses amphetamines.

“This is an area where he often walks his dog although he didn’t have it with him that day.

“There was an item on a fence, it was a security light.

“He is someone subject to an order. This offence was not long after.

“He knows that if the alcohol is dealt with and the drugs issue, he will stop coming before the courts.”

Bowdon was given a six-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to causing criminal damage of property valued at less than £5,000.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug.

There was no separate penalty for this second offence although magistrates ordered that the drugs be destroyed.

They also instructed him to pay £85 court costs and a £21 victim surcharge.