Man hid drugs in his armpit

Lewis Blatchford, 22, of Whitendale, Lancaster, pleaded guilty to possessing a total of 4.27 grams of cocaine with intent to supply it between August 8 and 9 last year.

Judge Andrew Woolman told him: “You have escaped prison by the skin of your teeth.”

Prosecuting, Harry Pepper said: “At 11.30pm police were on foot patrol in Morecambe.

“They received a call to attend the Lord Nelson public house.

“Door staff said they had seen a man sniffing white powder in the toilets and gave a description. They entered the pub stopped the defendant and started to search him.

“He volunteered a snap bag of white powder from his sock.

“It was found to contain 0.89 grams at a 35 percent purity with a street value of £40.”

Preston Crown Court heard he was taken to a police station and searched again and officers found five bags of cocaine with £200 concealed under his armpit.

His i-Phone had drug related messages suggesting he was going to meet someone in that pub and supply cocaine in the pub, and he also had £333.40 cash.

His home was searched and £230 cash was found under his bed.

Blatchford, a qualified blacksmith with no previous drug convictions, gave no comment in interview.

Defending him, Darren Halstead said: “The defendant tells me since this matter he’s very much put to bed this type of conduct. He is full of apprehension at what may happen to him.”

He must do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £30 costs.