A MAN who ran away from police on patrol in South Tyneside was found to have cannabis on him.
Officers on Ocean Road saw three men acting suspiciously on Seafield Terrace in South Shields.
When they approached the group split up and ran off.
The officers caught up with Manzur Ahmed, who admitted he had some cannabis.
The 21-year-old, of Coston Drive, South Shields, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B drug at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting, said: “The officers saw men exchanging something and thought it might be drugs.
“When they caught up with the defendant, he said he had a ‘green’ on him, which they thought meant cannabis.
“In his jacket, they found two small bags of a green, leafy substance that they recognised as the drug.”
Christopher Brown, defending, said: “It was a very small quantity of something that grows naturally but is nonetheless illegal.
“He drew attention to himself by running off and told the officers he had cannabis – completing their job for them.
“One of the most important things in life is to tell the truth, and he did that.”
Magistrates gave Ahmed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs.