A Portadown man whose drug usage escalated from cannabis to cocaine has been sentenced to 130 hours community service.
The 20-year-old’s barrister told court: “He self reports that he casually has drinks with friends but has since ceased contact with the particular friend that gave him the cocaine.”
John Gerard Duffy, of Churchill Park, appeared for sentencing on possession of Class A at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Wednesday.
Prosecution outlined that on June 9, police spotted a car being driven suspiciously on Annesborough Road in Lurgan.
Officers stopped the vehicle to conduct a search and as the defendant exited the vehicle a bag containing a substance suspected to be cocaine fell out of his pocket.
During interview, Duffy made full admissions to the offence and confirmed the substance to be cocaine.
Prosecution informed court that the drugs had a street value of around £10.
Defence barrister Conor Lunny stated: “Mr Duffy was caught red handed, he has one previous for cannabis but this clearly shows an escalation.
“He received some bad news in the spring, his father passed away in and his family are still dealing with this, this was clearly not the right way to deal with it.”
He added: “This man needs a push, I would suggest a community service order, he self reports that he casually has drinks with friends but has since ceased contact with the particular friend that gave him the cocaine”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “Mr Duffy, your drug use has escalated from cannabis to cocaine.”
Duffy was sentenced to 130 hours of community service.
