Young sport star found with drugs

Daniel Corp, 18, was told he risked losing his sporting career if he continued to use and deal in drugs.

Magistrate Mike Sutton told the teenager he needed to stay off drugs after the teenager admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply at a court hearing on Monday.

Police officers found 50 grams of cannabis at Corp's home in Charter Road during an early-morning search.

Prosecutor Nicola Wootton said the search was sparked after police stopped a white Citron carrying five males, in Charter Road around 2.55am on November 29.

Smelling cannabis and noticing all five men had glazed eyes, officers ordered them out of the car and searched the vehicle.

Corp was arrested after handing officers a plastic bag containing brown lumps of cannabis resin, and a ready-made spliff.

A second man was arrested after producing drugs.

Officers carried out a search of Corp's home and seized £130 worth of cannabis resin, a pair of scissors, a burnt knife, and clear plastic wrap from a kitchen drawer, in a bin and under a fridge.

Defence solicitor John Elliott said his client was a promising young roller hockey star who started dealing in drugs to pay off debts.

"He says he was under a certain amount of stress in that he owed money to a drug dealer and very foolishly allowed pressure to be put on himself to sell additional drugs in order to pay back the debt he owed," he said.

"He is determined to give up drugs and knows full well if he commits any future offences he will be back here and resentenced."

"Daniel is involved in the junior national team for roller hockey and they have a lot of international and away games coming up."

Chair of the bench Mr Sutton told Corp to think carefully about his future roller hockey career.

"Sport and drug taking does not normally mix in the long term," he warned.

Corp was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £118 costs.