Boldon man warned he faces jail if he doesn't pay four year old fine after drugs bust

A forgetful South Tyneside drug user caught with amphetamine has been threatened with jail if he does not pay a fine hanging over his head for around four years.

Michael Burns, 35, of Reginald Street, Boldon Colliery, will spend nine days behind bars should he fail to cough up the £452 he owes from other legal matters within a year.

He was caught with the drug when officers called at his home on an unrelated investigation on Monday, May 6, prosecutor Paul Anderson told borough magistrates.

Burns made his situation worse when he was bailed by police to attend court to face a drugs possession charge on Monday, June 3, but failed to appear – leading to his arrest on a warrant.

When he made it into the dock the following day, he pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamine and failing to surrender to custody.

As magistrates rose to discuss sentence, they were informed Burns owed the cash, had done since at least 2020 and a previous court had imposed the jail term for non-payment.

After a short adjournment, the jobless defendant agreed to stump up payment from his benefits in instalments over the next 12 months.

To ensure he does, magistrates imposed a suspended committal warrant – and warned him he would be brought back before them should he falter.

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Of the drugs charge, prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Police wanted to speak to him on an unrelated matter.

“They found him in possession of a small amount of a white powder which was field tested.

“He told them, ‘It’s just a bit of toot. I’d forgotten it was there, it’s been in my pocket for a while’.”

And of missing his original day in court, Mr Anderson added: “I think he just forgot about it. He’s not been in trouble since 2011.”

Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “He was charged but he failed to attend, he says it just slipped his mind. He says he’s a bit scatty. There was no malice or trying to avoid court.

“He has entered a guilty plea for the drugs. It was a small amount of amphetamine for personal use.”

Magistrates fined Burns £80 for drug possession and £40 for failing to surrender to custody, with £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

They ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.