Man in court after alleyway drugs bust

In the dock on Thursday, August 28, was Frederick Vergal Fraser of Bowdown Court, Bartholomew Street, Newbury.
Sarah Mackay, prosecuting, said: “It was 10.25am and officers saw this defendant talking to a known drug addict in Bartholomew Street. Recent information suggested he may be dealing drugs.
“They went to the other end of the alleyway and saw the defendant drop a package which contained 13 wraps of crack and heroin.”
Police also found £110 in cash on Mr Fraser and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, the court heard.
Mrs Mackay said a subsequent search of his home resulted in more crack cocaine being found, plus a tablet of the Class C controlled benzodiazepine, Diazepam.
Mr Fraser, who has previous convictions, admitted possessing the Class A controlled drugs heroin and crack cocaine, plus the Diazepam tablet, all on June 17 this year.
Mike Davis, defending, said the drugs were for his client’s personal use and added: “He isn’t a drug dealer - I don’t know where that comes from, there’s no evidence for that whatsoever. He accounted for the cash and the police have given it back to him.”
He added: “The defendant has made a lot of effort to distance himself from his past misdemeanours but, sadly, has been using drugs again and it may have become a problem.
“It may be a cliche but he says he is glad he got caught as it was a wake-up call. As a result he has now got in touch with (substance misuse organisation) Turning Point.”
Magistrates fined Mr Fraser £220 and ordered him to pay £85 costs plus a statutory victim surcharge of £20.