'How much?' - Hebburn man caught with unprescribed drugs shocked as court reveal fines
Hebburn man reveals his shock after fines revealed during drug police raid case at South Tyneside Magistrates’.
A South Tyneside man caught with unprescribed drugs during a police raid got a shock in court when told the mammoth amount he owes in fines.
Alan Fox, 60, cried, “How much?” when the figure of £9,104 was read out by the clerk during his hearing before borough magistrates.
His solicitor intervened to insist the debt was mostly from Metro rail fines rather than more serious criminal offending.
It was then revealed Fox, of Torquay Parade, Hebburn, was paying the amount back from his state benefits at the rate of £20 a month.
Moments earlier, he had pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal drug possession.
Drugs bought illegally on the black market
He was found in possession of 172 class B codeine tablets and 56 class C pregabalin, both legal if prescribed by a medical professional.
However, Fox conceded he had bought them illegally on the black market for pain relief.
The defendant had hobbled into court, holding a metal crutch at his right side and was allowed to sit throughout the hearing.
Prosecutor Stephen Davies said: “The police attended his address with a search warrant.
“The search revealed 172 codeine tablets and 56 pregabalin tablets, medication that is available on prescription.
“Mr Fox didn’t have a prescription for that medication. He was arrested.
“He made a prepared statement, saying he had obtained them for himself to manage pain. He didn’t answer any questions after.
“He has a number of convictions going back many years. The last was in September 2024 for a waste disposal offence and prior to that it was disqualified driving.”
‘Gets credit for guilty pleas’
David Forrester, defending, said of Fox’s debt: “I assume that’s Metro fines because there’s nothing on his record to show fines to that degree.”
Of his client’s drug offences, he added: “It’s one of those unusual types of offences where they are items you are allowed to have if prescribed but not if not prescribed.
“He struggles with pain management. He gets credit for his guilty pleas.”
Magistrates fined Fox £80, with £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.