Mark Jamie Henry, aged 32, from Garvaghy Gardens, Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with possession of the Class A drug cocaine. Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. Henry’s solicitor Mr John McAtamney said his client, who pleaded guilty, was in breach of a suspended sentence for a different matter.
Advertisement Advertisement The court heard that on July 22 this year, the Air Support Unit requested a unit patrol the area of Churchill Park after they observed a suspected ‘drugs matter’ happening in the area. Police attended and spotted a man on a bicycle, who turned out to be the defendant. During a search two small packets of suspected cocaine were found in his left trouser pocket.
"He made full admission to owning the cocaine. He says he bought about four grams for £230," said the prosecutor. Mr McAtamney said his client was spotted purchasing the drugs.
Advertisement Advertisement “He volunteered the drugs were cocaine when found on him. He made full admissions in interview,” said the solicitor, adding that Henry has no previous convictions for drug offending. He added the defendant is single, unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit and that “the £230 worth of cocaine was for his own personal use”.
“This is your first drug offence. It is cocaine which is a Class A drug,” the district judge Michael Ranaghan told the defendant.