Whitchurch worker found with heroin and Mcat
A Whitchurch building site worker who went along with some workmates to buy heroin wants help to sort out his drug problems, magistrates have been told.
Andrew Winter, 43, of Worthington Street, Whitchurch, got a nine-month community order with supervision and a requirement to complete a drug rehabilitation programme after he admitted possessing 19.6g of heroin and 99mg of Mcat.
At Telford Magistrates Court yesterday he was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge. Magistrates ordered the forfeit and destruction of the drugs.
Mr Mike Phillips, prosecuting, said Winter was a passenger in a car stopped by a police patrol on the A41 at Tong, near Shifnal, on August 4 last year. A small bag of white powder was found in his trainer and he was arrested. Officers became suspicious at his fidgeting and, when searched again, a golf ball-sized lump of heroin was found.
Mr Phillips said the drugs were estimated to have a value of £10-30 for the Mcat and between £500 and £600 for the heroin.
Mrs Lisa Morris-Jones, defending, challenged that estimate. She said: "The true street value is £300 in total, because that's what he had just paid."
She said he saw his arrest as a blessing in disguise and did not want to return to using drugs. She said he was in a stable relationship, realised he had put that at risk and wanted to get help for his on-off addiction.
