Drug addict collared in police op, court told

10:00pm Friday 8th August 2008

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A MAN who appeared nervous outside a pub when police were conducting a drugs operation tried to do a runner but was chased and caught, a court was told today.

Peter Worton, 28, was with other men outside the Buccaneer pub in Kings Road, North Ormesby, Teesside, when the police explained the reason for their activity.

When pursuing officers grabbed him Worton said "I've a bag of sniff ", meaning cocaine, said prosecutor Shaun Dodds.

The cocaine had a street value of £790 and he also had £90 in cash, and a mobile phone with text messages over the previous fortnight referring to drug deals including "Have you got any stuff ?" and "Why don't you sort me out ?"

Worton said that he won £450 on the horses, and he and a friend chipped-in £150 to buy the cocaine, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Tom Mitchell, defending, said that Worton was remarkably candid in his admissions to police and to a probation officer preparing his pre-sentence report.

He added: "Addiction to cocaine is a very expensive thing even for a man who worked hard and earned good money.

"He found himself in debt and in a position of effectively funding his own use by taking some and passing some on."

Judge Peter Bowers told Worton: "I dare say that anyone on the court corridor would say that you have drawn a short straw in appearing before me.

"People who appear before me for offences involving drugs almost invariably go to prison.

"But I accept that you have cleared yourself of your addiction and maintained your work record."

Worton of College Road, Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, was given 250 hours unpaid work, with a 9pm to 6am curfew for four months and £420 costs after he pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply on March 15.