Former chef guilty of possessing heroin

Magistrates hand down fine to Newbury man found with class A drug

A FORMER Wetherspoon chef has pleaded guilty to possessing heroin after being stopped by police near Newbury town centre in July.

David Hardie, 36, was found to have three rocks of heroin hidden in a headphones bag when he was searched by police in Faraday Road on July 3.

Prosecutor Helen Waite told the court how Mr Hardie, of Owen Road, claimed he had found the rocks on the ground and decided to use them himself.

Defending, Sally Thomson said her client had no previous convictions for class A drugs, but did have previous convictions for possessing cannabis.

Ms Thomson said Hardie had found the heroin on the street possibly after someone had previously thrown it away due to heavy police activity in the area.

She added that Mr Hardie, who had previously worked as a chef for pub chain Wetherspoon, had signed off work due to back pain resulting from a car accident and was using cannabis as an attempt to help with the pain when his prescribed medication was not enough.

Mr Hardie was fined a total of £250 and ordered to pay criminal court costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £20.