A HUSBAND and wife have been in court charged with drugs and weapons offences during a 'tumultuous' period in their lives.

When police raided Karl and Rebekah McCabe's home they recovered cocaine, a small quantity of cannabis, drug paraphernalia, a knuckleduster and two stun guns.

A search of the husband's car revealed a mobile phone with a number of text messages concerning the supply of the cocaine.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Mrs McCabe arrest and conviction had cost her her job as a social worker.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said the raid, which took place on February 19 in 2019, was carried out by officers from Cleveland Police.

He said a bag of cannabis 'bush' and five bags of cocaine were recovered from their home.

Mr Turton said Mr McCabe was spotted driving a car before being arrested when he abandoned it and tried to flee the scene.

The court heard how he had previous convictions for selling drugs and motoring offences.

Mr McCabe pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and Mrs McCabe pleaded guilty to possession of two prohibited weapons, possession of cannabis and failing to attend court. A possession with intent to supply cocaine charge was dropped by the prosecution.

The court heard how the couple, of Wardale Avenue, Middlesbrough, were struggling to come to terms with medical complications suffered by their newborn twins.

Nigel Soppitt, representing 29-year-old Karl McCabe, said his client had turned his life around since this 'tumultuous' period and had since set up his own business.

He added: "It's my submission that this is a small amount of drugs and paraphernalia is very limited in this case. The text messages were fairly limited."

Ian West, representing 34-year-old Rebekah McCabe, urged the judge to show his client mercy as she had suffered enough with this case hanging over her for two years.

He said: "She has been punished in a way, simply by being dragged to the crown court under the threat of prosecution for the offences she which she faced a prison sentence – those have gone now. They caused an awful lot of stress in her life."

Judge Recorder Marco Giuliani sentenced the husband to two years in custody, suspended for two years, and gave is wife a conditional discharge.