Police found drugs during house search

He was William McCallum, Millmount Court, Lurgan Road, Banbridge, and he admitted possession of cannabis on October 29 last year, possession of Diazepam and possession of Diazepam with intent to supply.

A fine of £100 was imposed for possession of a firework on the same date.

The court heard that police carried out a search at Railway Street in Banbridge where a number of people were present.

McCallum showed police where a bag containing cannabis and yellow tablets was hidden beside a washing machine.

He admitted the cannabis was for his own use and that he had earlier given the Diazepam to a friend. A firework was found in the living room of the property.

McCallum said he was keeping the firework for a friend because his friend had children.

A barrister representing the defendant said he co-operated fully with the police and told them where the drugs where on the premises.

He added that McCallum had the cannabis for his own personal use but he did not use Diazepam and had sold this on to another individual for a small financial gain.

The lawyer explained that his client had used drugs and alcohol as ‘a crutch’ to deal with his problems but he had now abstained from alcohol and put his drug usage behind him.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, told McCallum ‘it ends here’ warning him if he continued he would ‘end up behind bars’.

But, he added, a pre-sentence report suggested the defendant would benefit from some support and imposed the community service order.