A MAN caught in possession of a batch of amphetamines when he was stopped by police in his car was today (Tuesday April 14) told to expect a prison sentence.

It follows Michael Jefferson’s admission that he was acting as a courier, when pulled over by traffic officers in County Durham, early last year.

Jefferson was at the wheel of a 4x4 vehicle which was stopped in the Stanley area, shortly before 6pm, on January 27.

Officers recovered a total of 689g of amphetamines, found between the car’s two front seats, with an estimated value in street sale terms of about £34,000.

The 43-year-old, from Stanley, initially denied knowledge of the batch of the stimulant drug, also known as “speed” or “whizz”, suggesting it must have been planted in his car while he was visiting a friend’s garage.

Jefferson went on to deny a charge of possessing the class B drug with intent to supply and the case was adjourned for trial.

The alleged offence took place only three days after police visited Jefferson’s home and found a domestic cannabis growth.

He admitted a charge of cannabis production at a hearing in July last year, but sentence was adjourned until after the outcome of his scheduled trial on the amphetamine supply charge.

But at today’s hearing, his counsel, Chris Baker, asked if the indictment could be put again to Jefferson, who pleaded guilty.

Mr Baker said: “He accepts he was acting as a courier on that day, as the Crown can’t say there was any more to it than that.

“He also has the other matter of cultivating cannabis which now falls to be sentenced.”

Judge Christopher Prince adjourned for preparation of a pre-sentence report on Jefferson, but told him: “When you return to court you must expect to receive a custodial sentence, so put your affairs in order.”

He bailed Jefferson, of Victoria Terrace, Stanley, to return for sentence on May 15.