One-armed Ferryhill man caught with cocaine and baton

David Tilley was arrested near his home when the illicit goods were recovered from inside his Volkswagen car, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard.

The 43-year-old told officers the cocaine was for his own use and he had found the extendable baton while out walking his dog.

Marcus Blakelock, prosecuting, said the defendant maintained that he had put the weapon on the door pocket of his car with the intention of disposing of it but had forgotten about it.

Tilley, of Coniston Road, Ferryhill, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of an offensive weapon when his car was searched on January 15, 2025.

Georgia Snowdon, mitigating, said her client had turned to using cocaine as he was having difficulties in his life at the time.

She said: “A lot was going on and he was relying on cocaine to take his mind off things.”

Miss Snowdon said Tilley suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after losing his left arm in a road traffic accident.

David Thompson, the chairman of the magistrates’ bench, sentence Tilley to four months in prison suspended for 12 months.

The defendant was also ordered to attend ten rehabilitation activity days, made subject of a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement order and told to pay £234 in court costs