A HABITUAL drug user almost evaded capture when he sprinted off from police officers who became entangled in his dog’s lead after they gave chase.

Stephen Anthony Daniel was spotted by Dyfed Powys Police officers walking near the Ridgebourne Inn in Llandrindod Wells on July 12 carrying a rucksack and holding a chihuahua.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies told magistrates in Llandrindod on Wednesday, October 7, that PCs Williams and Dicks were on patrol and around 2.50pm were driving past the Ridgebourne pub and noticed Mr Daniel walking with a black rucksack and a dog on a lead.

“They stopped and approached him and advised him they were going to conduct a search,” said Mr Davies.

“The defendant put the rucksack on the floor by his feet and started removing items, then he dropped the dog’s lead and ran off in the direction of Cedar Ridge.

“The police officers gave chase but when PC Williams tried to grab him he fell over and PC Dicks then got tangled up in the dog lead and fell to the ground.

“They looked in the rucksack and found three foil packages, inside of which were cannabis leaves. They saw the defendant about 300m away and soon detained him.

“At the police station he told officers ‘old habits die hard’ and admitted the drugs were his.”

Daniel, of Llwynbrain Villas, Howey, admitted possessing seven grams of cannabis, a controlled drug of Class B, when he appeared at the hearing.

Acting for the 42-year-old, Gareth Walters said: “He paid £60 for the drugs and says that would have lasted him until the next day. He uses cannabis for PTSD and depression although he is also prescribed medication for this.

“He has a long history of offending but only three offences for drugs in the last six years, the last one being in 2018. It was a fairly small amount of cannabis.”

Magistrates fined Daniel £80 fine and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge.