A DRUG dealer drove to a police station for protection, telling officers he feared he was going to be shot, a court was told.

Gareth George Farthing was in possession of a range of drugs, of both class A and B, as well as weapons for protection, when he went to the police station in Consett, County Durham.

Having been bailed and subsequently found again in possession of drugs, Farthing has been remanded in custody and warned by a judge that he is facing, “an inevitable prison sentence”.

The 28-year-old defendant appeared for the plea and case management hearing at Durham Crown Court, on Friday (January 29), facing a total of nine charges.

They relate to dates in both April and September last year in which he was in possession of drugs.

But three of the charges relate to weapons found in Farthing’s possession in the rear yard of the police station, in Parliament Street, Consett.

Judge Christopher Prince said there was no reason why the charges should not be put to the defendant.

He pleaded ‘guilty’ to possessing quantities of cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis with intent to supply, on April 25, 2015.

Farthing, of Roseberry Terrace, Consett, also admitted possessing an offensive weapon, a knuckle-duster, and possessing a prohibited weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a noxious liquid, pepper spray.

But he denied possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply and having an article with a blade or point, said to be a multi-use lock knife, on the same date.

Farthing also pleaded ‘guilty’ to possessing amphetamines with intent to supply, on September 12 last year, but denied the same offence relating to cannabis resin, although he indicated he would admit to simple possession of the class B drug on that date.

Graeme Cook, for Farthing, said his client’s ‘guilty’ pleas were made on the basis that he drove to the police station, saying he was going to be shot.

Judge Prince told the defendant: “I’ll adjourn for sentence to allow the prosecution to consider the basis on which those pleas were made.

“If it is not agreed, then there will be a trial of issue at the next hearing to decide on which basis you are sentenced.

“Either way, I’ll adjourn until February 26, but you’ll be remanded in custody until then”

Rejecting a request by Mr Cook to allow him bail until the next hearing, Judge Prince told Farthing: “A custodial sentence is inevitable, and, you were on bail at the time of the second offence.”