A COCAINE supplier’s dealing was exposed after police found some of the drug stashed in his sock.
The discovery was made after police stopped Anthony Tate as he drove his Audi A4 along Lincoln Road, South Shields, in April and found a small amount of compressed cocaine in his right sock when he was searched.
This led to his home being raided, where £600 worth of cocaine, £153 in cash, scales and a debtors list were found.
Tate, 24, of Dacre Street, South Shields, admitted possession of a class a drug with intent to supply.
Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: “He signed a basis of plea where he admitted selling the drug in exchange for cash.”
The court heard Tate would bulk buy the drug for himself and only sell to people he knew and who were already users.
Judge James Goss QC told him: “You perhaps did not realise the seriousness of what you were doing, but you should be under no illusion that to supply drugs to others, particularly Class A drugs, is a serious offence which inevitably results in a prison sentence.”
The judge said the 18-month jail term could be suspended for two years in Tate’s case because of his previous positive character and the efforts he has made since he was arrested.
Tate was also ordered to carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work and abide by a 7pm to 7am curfew for four months.
Vic Laffey, defending, said Tate was an “impressive young man” who was earning up to £25,000 per year as a supervisor, but had lost his job when his bosses found out about his arrest.