A man is facing jail after being caught dealing wraps of Spice in Newcastle's main shopping area.
Anthony Anderson was spotted by members of the public handing out wraps of the class B drug on Northumberland Street, in the city centre, back in April 2019.
The police were called and the 37-year-old was found nearby carrying almost 50g of the synthetic cannabinoid, a court heard.
A subsequent search of his home in Whitley Road, in Whitley Bay, also revealed further drugs and drugs paraphernalia.
Despite making a full admission in interview, Anderson was released under investigation and his case only came to court on Thursday, 15 months after he committed the offence, his solicitor said.
Anderson appeared via video link at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court from HMP Northumberland, having served a sentence for a separate offence earlier this year and been recalled to prison.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a class B drug with intent to supply.
Leslie Burgess, prosecuting, said it was during the day on April 26 last year that police received a report of someone dealing drugs on Northumberland Street.
She said: "The defendant, a man matching the description given to officers, was found and searched and he had a number of bags of Spice on him. There were 19 bags.
"Officers then did a house search and further drugs paraphernalia and drugs were at the property.
"It's street dealing and the defendant had only recently been released from prison when he committed the offence. The Crown would say commit this for sentence as the powers within this court are insufficient."
Mark Styles, defending, said "professional" graffiti artist Anderson had served a two-month jail sentence at the beginning of the year for criminal damage after spray painting a council telephone box and was also recalled to prison.
The solicitor added: "He developed a drug addiction while in prison and he was released to a hostel and, within there, a lot of people are taking drugs.
"He told his offender manager he had accrued a drugs debt in prison. His offender manager says the support given to him was next to nil.
"As a result, Anthony was assaulted on at least two occasions. He was then told "You sell Spice for us or you will be assaulted again"."
Magistrates deemed their powers to finalise the case were insufficient and committed Anderson to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence, where he will appear on August 27.
