A Darlington man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine.

Jed Kirby, of Hammond Drive, admitted having 473 milligrammes of cocaine for personal use.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge after appearing at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He was caught with the drugs in the toilets of a town centre pub on July 15.

He made full admissions to the police and entered an early guilty plea.

Kirby told the court he had paid £10 for the cocaine. District Judge Michael Wood told Kirby he was dealing with his case leniently, but only because of his early guilty plea, co-operation with the police and the small amount of drugs.

Kirby, 18, had no previous convictions and there was no evidence to suggest he had bought the drug to supply.

Mr Wood said: "This is not to say the court does not take drug offences seriously. I have simply taken into account the circumstances of this case."

Kirby was also made to pay £34 in court costs.