A DRUG user told police to throw away a plastic bag they found in his pocket after being arrested, informing them it was “just rubbish”.

But officers found 12.5 grams of amphetamines in the bag, belonging to Jamie Paul Kirkham, when he was arrested on August 30.

The 40-year-old admitted a charge of possessing Class B drugs at the town’s magistrates court on Wednesday, November 4.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said Kirkham was arrested at 8am for an unrelated matter. “PC Bowman found a plastic bag in the defendant’s trouser pocket while in custody, the defendant said ‘it’s just rubbish, throw it away’. But the officer suspected it contained drugs and it was found to be amphetamines.

“The defendant said he’d paid £50 for it. The 12.5 grams had a street value of £60-120.”

Mr Davies said there were previous similar matters from December last year on Kirkham’s file.

Owain Jones, acting for Kirkham, of Sunningdale, Temple Drive, said: “You’ll be concerned regarding the previous convictions but he’s been engaging with Kaleidoscope and he has a habit that is on-off and he is trying to address that issue. He’s also on a methadone script.

“This was a low amount and he cooperated fully with the police.

“Mr Kirkham suffers with mental health issues, he’s a paranoid schizophrenic.”

Magistrates fined him £120 fine and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge, and they also ordered a forfeiture and destruction order in relation to the drugs.