A MAN who had was convicted of possession of heroin said "everything just got on top of me" when he was charged.

Lee Raymond was arrested by police in Worcester for an unrelated matter on October 1 last year, and, when searching him at the police station, officers found two wraps of heroin and some Subutex pills, which are an opioid painkiller.

The 39 year-old, of Borrowdale Drive, Warndon, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Worcester on January 16, and the court heard he had also failed to attend a scheduled appointment at Swanswell on October 11.

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Emily Clewer, prosecuting, said: "He said they were heroin and Subutex and that he had bought the tablets himself.

"He has 41 prior convictions for 121 offences, six for drug offences, with the last coming six years ago."

Raymond appeared in court to face three charges, one of possession of heroin, one of possession of Subutex and one of failing to attend the meeting at Swanswell.

Representing Raymond, Barry Newton said: "Mr Raymond comes before you for the first time in many years. When he came out of custody he had been addicted to class A drugs but he went through rehab and shortly after that, met his late partner and remained clean for 12 years.

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Regrettably and tragically his partner died in 2018 and he has now full care of their three children.

"When asked by me he said 'everything just got on top of me' and he has slipped back as a way of coping."

Sentencing Raymond, chair of the bench Gareth Thomas said: "We sympathise with it (the reason for taking the drugs) but it is still possession of class A drugs. You are seeing Swanswell and are clearly a dedicated father but you need to address this problem."

Raymond was fined £252 for the heroin charge, but was given no separate penalty for the other two.