A GAMBLER was carrying more than £2,000 in cash when he was arrested in a drugs house, a court heard yesterday.

Colin Noble, 29, from Darlington, was carrying the money when he was arrested in a house where crack cocaine and heroin worth £6,300 was seized, it was alleged.

Mr Noble told police he had won £5,000 a few nights earlier at a Teesside casino and collected more from a Darlington bookmaker.

Checks revealed he had lost more than he won at the tables, said Ian West, prosecuting.

When Cleveland Police raided a house in Belle View Court, Stockton, on July 6 last year, Mr Noble ran out of the back door into the arms of police, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Police found the crack cocaine and heroin in plastic bags in the kitchen sink and a set of pocket scales.

Mr Noble, who denied knowing anything about the drugs, was in possession of £2,296. He said he had been to Redcar with friends and on the way back he called a friend, Yasser Younis, and arranged to meet him.

Mr Noble, of Marlborough Drive, Darlington, denies conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Younis, 24, of Russell Street, Stockton; Peter Dawson, 30, of Appleton Road, Stockton; and David Kerr, 28, of Londonderry Road, Stockton, had earlier admitted conspiracy with unknown people.

The prosecution said Kimberley Magson, 39, of Ketton Road, Stockton, was twice caught with crack cocaine in Westfield Court, Stockton.

Younis was with her on the second occasion and she claimed that they were about to share a pipe of crack cocaine, it was alleged.

She has pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply on May 10 last year, but denies conspiracy to supply on June 6 last year.

The trial continues.