A KENDAL man with a record of committing drugs offences has found himself back before the court again.

Ryan Footitt, of Peat Lane, admitted he had been in possession of Class B cannabis and Class C Valium at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on November 6.

With his guilty plea at the first opportunity, the 34-year-old man admitted he had ownership of the drugs earlier this year in Kendal on April 6.

Prosecuting the case, Peter Kelly said: “Police were on foot patrol when they saw the defendant. He was spoken to about having drugs in his possession when he then attempted to run from officers.

“The defendant was caught and found to have a small amount of pills and cannabis in his possession consistent for his own personal use.”

Mr Kelly told the court had 14 previous drugs offences on his criminal record. He added that Footitt was last prosecuted for drugs related matters earlier this year.

In mitigation, Trystan Roberts said: “He accepts when he was stopped that he had three Valium tablets which had not been prescribed to him.

“He has not come to the court’s attention since this happened. He is currently working in landscaping to top up his universal credit. He now feels in a better place to where he has been in the past.

“I ask you to deal with him as leniently as you can.”

The court heard Footitt had committed the offences in April whilst subject to a suspended sentence order from the Carlisle Crown Court.

Magistrates fined the defendant £160 for the offences. Footitt was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £64 surcharge.