Judge tells South Shields defendant 'you are not in Spain' after cocaine offender turns up to court in bright pink shorts

A company director who turned up to court in South Tyneside wearing bright pink shorts was reminded by a judge he was not in Spain.
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Dean McKay, 38, of Tadema Road, off Mowbray Road, South Shields, came before Deputy District Judge Gary Garland on a drugs charge.

McKay admitted possession of class A cocaine on Tuesday, September 15 - and was then upbraided for his lack of court fashion sense.

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Judge Garland told the dad he was ‘not in Spain’ in reference to his shorts.

The judge reminded the defendant he was not 'in Spain' after the man turned up to his court in bright pink shortsThe judge reminded the defendant he was not 'in Spain' after the man turned up to his court in bright pink shorts
The judge reminded the defendant he was not 'in Spain' after the man turned up to his court in bright pink shorts

He said: “You might do yourself a favour if you ever have to come to court in summer, that’s to realise that you’re not in Spain.

“You whipped on a pair of shorts instead of trousers. It’s a minor point.

“If you were trying to persuade people to your point of view, you always do better if you play the game.”

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South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard McKay was found in possession of the illegal substance in the borough.

Police stopped him on an unrelated matter and the drugs were located during a body search.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “It’s a very small amount. He said that it was for personal use.

“Upon being searched, he was found in possession of a small packet of a white powder which was tested and found to be cocaine.”

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The court heard McKay has 32 previous convictions from 86 offences, two of which were drug related.

It was said he was last before the courts in 2015.

Kevin Smallcombe, defending, said McKay forgot he had the drugs on him when he was searched.

He said: “There’s nothing aggravating about this. He shouldn’t have had the drugs.

“He didn’t realise that he had them on him when he was searched. I don’t know how this has taken so long to come to court.”

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In reply to Judge Garland, McKay told him he had been out with his child that morning before coming to court and had been suitably attired for that.

McKay, who was also wearing a black t-shirt and black trainers, was fined £100, with £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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