POLICE found a large amount of cocaine stored in a man’s house after they stopped him in possession of the drug while in his car.

Cocaine, said to be of high purity and with an estimated street value of more than £3,400, was found at Daniel Potts’ home after it was searched by officers.

Potts, 23, of Shearwater Avenue, Darlington, said he was holding the drug for somebody else because of a debt he owed that person.

Prosecutor David Crook told Teesside Crown Court that 125 cannabis cuttings were also found in an attic at the property.

He said: “There were facilities within the house for all of those plants to grow into a large, successful crop.”

The case was stood down briefly by Recorder Martin Bethel after it emerged Potts’ legal counsel had not filed a so-called basis of plea for his admittance of the cannabis possession.

Ben Pegman, mitigating, said: “In hindsight this issue should have been anticipated. The focus has been on the class A [drugs].”

Mr Crook said the Crown needed time to consider Potts’ explanation for the cannabis and requested that sentencing be adjourned until November 19.

In the meantime, Recorder Bethel bailed Potts, who has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and producing cannabis.