A hospital patient who was about to undergo surgery was found with heroin stashed in his sock.
Paul Hays was being prepared for an operation on his leg at the Freeman Hospital when a nurse discovered a package of brown powder.
The 57-year-old still underwent the procedure but the suspected heroin was seized and sent off for analysis.
Hays, of Duddon Place, in Low Fell, Gateshead, was later charged with possession of a class A drug and pleaded guilty to the offence during a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Rehana Haque, prosecuting, said Hays, who has 93 offences on his recorded, including four relating to drugs, was admitted the the Freeman in early May 2020.
She added: "The defendant attended for an emergency operation.
"When the nurse was preparing him, a package of brown powder fell out of his sock. It was heroin.
"He was later dealt with in relation to that offence and the powder was field tested."
The court heard that Hays's last conviction was for assaulting a police officer in 2016.
Mark Harrison, mitigating, said Hays needed the surgery for a blood clot in his leg and was an inpatient for a fortnight.
"He had no recollection that any drugs were in that sock," Mr Harrison continued.
"He couldn't even bend down to put his socks on and off.
"He's pleaded guilty as the very last thing he wants to do it put nurses through having to come to court to give evidence because they saved both his life and his leg."
Fining Hays £100 and ordering him to pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge, District Judge Paul Currer said: "I accept what has been said and give you credit for your guilty plea."
