A MAN found in possession of drugs, many for supply to others, in a police raid at his home, was caught red-handed dealing in the street outside just weeks later.

Durham Crown Court heard that officers visited the premises in South Moor, Stanley, on March 29, 2019, and found drugs in various locations round the house.

The stash included 22 ecstasy tablets, worth between £110 and £220, five packages containing amphetamines, worth about £200, and smaller amounts of cannabis.

Ian West, prosecuting, said police also found a note book containing drug sale details, £100 in cash, bags and scales.

The couple living at the address, in Park Road, David Middleton and Terri Ovington, were arrested and made no comment in interview.

Mr West said police visited again, on June 14, and found Middleton conducting a drug transaction with someone in a car outside his home.

On seeing the police, the car driver made off at speed and Middleton also tried to flee.

He was detained and a small bag of white powder was found on the ground nearby, dropped by Middleton.

In the house, Ovington showed police 41 small bags of pure cocaine, worth between £1,500 and £2,000.

The officers also found amphetamines and seized mobile phones, a set of scales, and more books with drug calculations, one indicating a customer had a debt of £2,000.

Both were again arrested and made no comment.

Middleton, 33, now of Windsor Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, admitted ten counts relating to possessing and dealing in the seized drugs.

Ovington, 38, also now of Windsor Terrace, admitted allowing premises to be used for the supply of drugs.

David Callan, for Middleton, said a police expert classed the role he played as that of, “a low-level street dealer”, adding that he is, “extremely lightly convicted”.

Imposing a 40-month prison sentence, Judge James Adkin told Middleton: “One might reasonably have thought the first arrest would be a shot across the bows, but that doesn’t appear to have diminished your appetite for dealing in drugs.”

Judge Adkin said he would not impose an immediate prison sentence on Ovington, of previous good character.

He passed a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 30-probation led rehabilitation activity days and a five-month 7pm to 7am home curfew.