A drug user has avoided a prison term after being found with cannabis in his kitchen and cocaine in his toilet.
Tyler Carr was nabbed with the illegal substances after police raided his home in Mount Road, Birtley, Gateshead, on Tuesday, December 22.
The 22-year-old admitted the offences and insisted the class A and class B drugs were for personal use only, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
His arrest came two years after he pleaded guilty to possession of the same two drugs with intent to supply.
On that occasion, a court accepted his plea that he was trading them to repay a dealer he had fallen into debt with.
At his latest hearing, prosecutor Paul Anderson said: "Just before Christmas last year, the police have reason to go to the defendant's address in Birtley.
"They searched the premises and recovered a bag from the kitchen that had about twenty buds of cannabis in it.
"From the cistern in the toilet was a bag that inside proved to be positive for cocaine.
"When interviewed, he said, 'Any drugs found in the house are mine and they are for personal use. They are nothing to do with anyone else'."
The court heard Carr was caught in possession of cocaine and cannabis on August 10, 2019, and charged with intent to supply.
He pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court on the basis he was in debt to a drug dealer and any money made went to him.
Although the prosecution did not accept that basis of plea, a judge did after the case went to an evidential Newton hearing, it was said.
Carr was only sentenced for that offence on March 23 this year, when he was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years.
Michael Henderson, defending, said: "In 2017, he was dealing with the death of his great-grandmother who he describes as being a second mother.
"In 2018, his drug use spiralled out of control, and he then ended up with debts to a drug dealer.
"What resulted was that he was working for that dealing to pay off that debt.
"You may think that’s a very interesting story, but it’s true."
At his latest hearing, District Judge Paul Currer said he had no wish to stray from the evidence accepted by the Crown Court.
For possession of cocaine, he handed Carr a 16-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, to run concurrently to his Crown Court sentence.
And for possession of cannabis, Car received eight weeks in jail, also suspended for 12 months and to run concurrently to the 12-month term and the crown court sentence.
He must also pay a £128 victim surcharge.
