Jarrow stab attack victim caught with drugs bought illegally to manage long-term pain arising from injuries
A South Tyneside stab attack victim was caught with drugs bought illegally to manage long-term pain arising from his injuries, a court heard.
Jonathan Johnson, 42, was in possession of 10 tablets of painkiller prefibin and 127 of anxiety drug pregabalin in blister bags when searched after his arrest. Johnson, of Buxton Close, Jarrow, also had £760 in cash on Saturday, September 27, which police suspected may have been the proceeds of drug supply.
He denied that allegation when interviewed and it was not further investigated - and no charge arose from it, prosecutor Chike Anieto said. At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted possession of class C drugs, in that he believed the tablets were of a different substance.
Mr Anieto said: “The defendant was arrested by police officers for a breach of the peace at Hill Park Road. In relation to this, he was arrested and taken to Southwick police station in Sunderland, where he was searched and police found cash of £760 and some drugs.
“There were 10 tablets of prefibin and 127 of pregabalin, and they were all in blister bags. When interviewed, he did admit to possession of drugs but not any element of trying to supply them.
“He said that that cash was from savings in relation to his benefits and disability payments. He has 58 previous convictions from 119 offences, between 1999 and March 2023. The crown asks for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.”
Hannah Mostoufi, defending, said: “Guilty pleas are entered to these two attempted possession drug offences. He accepts that he does have issues with drugs of these types. That is a result of a stabbing he suffered in 2008, from which he suffered extensive injuries.
“He suffers from pain and it’s because of that that he turns to these tablets. He was in so much pain that he made the decision to get them. He instructs that he’s tried all sorts of medication and has had spinal and nerve blockers. Referrals have been made to the pain clinic at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. It’s well documented that this is an issue.”
Magistrates, who ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, fined Johnson £40, with a £16 victim surcharge. There were no court costs.