Caught with drugs a short time after suspended sentence

Kevin Dale, Grove Hill, Banbridge, admitted possession of a class C drug, diazepam, on August 18 last year.

He was sentenced to serve 100 hours of community service.

The court heard that at around 7.45pm police searched a car which contained a number of people. The defendant was in the rear nearside passenger seat.

Around 30 diazepam tablets were found hidden in the roof close to the interior light.

When Dale was interviewed at the police station he admitted the tablets belonged to him.

A barrister representing the defendant said he was in breach of a suspended sentence.

It had taken for a month for this to kick in with him and since this incident there were was nothing else pending.

He added there was a breakdown between Dale and his partner and he succumbed to the temptation of self-medication.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

Deputy District Judge Amanda Brady said she would not activate the suspended sentence because it was for a different kind of offence.

The lawyer added that he probation report indicated that Dale was suitable for community service and he would consent to that proposal.

Imposing 100 hours Judge Brady said the defendant committed this offence only a week after the suspended sentence had been imposed.