Mark Weston, 34, bought £115 of cocaine after striking it lucky with his bet.But his luck ran out when police raided a house in Erskine Road, Hartlepool, the very same day and found the drugs.Weston, of Glamis Walk, Hartlepool, admitted one charge of possessing a class A drug on March 18.Patricia Mancina, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said police recovered 9.5 grams of cocaine with an extimated value of between £379 and £474.She told the court: "He and his partner were there and when asked if there were any illegal substances he handed to police seven bags of white powder."In interview he said he had bought it that day for £115 and it was for his own use."He had treated himself because he had had a gambling win that day."Paul Cleasby, mitigating, told the court how Weston was battling to overcome a drug addiction and was on prescribed methadone.He said: "He admitted to police that the cocaine was his and co-operated with police during the search of the premises.
"For many years he has struggled with an addiction to heroin."He is now on prescribed medication to try and wean himself off drugs."The probation service is anxious to address his thinking about illegal drugs. They are keen for him to complete an offending programme."Weston was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and an 18 month community order with supervision.
Judge Peter Bowers told him: "I appreciate you have been trying hard to rid yourself of your habit."Methadone is possibly helping you. But that does not excuse you taking on cocaine as an additive to your methadone."This sentence is meant to be a reminder to you that unless you get your act sorted out you are going to end up in prison."
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