An Armagh man who was found with one diazepam tablet has been fined £245.
The district judge told the 49-year-old: “You are no stranger to possession of illicit drugs. You are beginning to wear down the court’s patience.”
Idris Andrews, of Killuney Drive, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class C drug the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
It was herd that on December 7, at around 1.30am, police were called to a disturbance at an address in Armagh.
Officers arrived and spoke to an intoxicated female before speaking to the defendant.
He stated that the female had attended his home intoxicated.
Andrews was subsequently arrested in relation to another matter.
Whilst being searched at Dungannon Custody Suite a single diazepam tablet was found on the defendant’s person.
During interview, Andrews was not charged with anything in relation to the domestic matter but accepted possession of the tablet and admitted to it not being prescribed to him.
Defence barrister Bobbie Rea stated: “This was a guilty plea at the first opportunity. His application and demeanour towards police was one of full co-operation from the outset.
“He had two previous convictions for possession of Class B, they are dated May 16 of 2017 and more recently March 5 of 2019.”
He added: “I do not mean to minimise the possession of any illicit drug but in this case, it was one solitary tablet of diazepam”.
District Judge Paul Copeland stated: “Mr Andrews, you are no stranger to possession of illicit drugs. You are beginning to wear down the court’s patience.”
The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £245, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.
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