A Shropshire drug addict with a long-term habit has been spared an immediate jail term after being caught with drugs in his socks and underwear.

Richard George Bond, 48, from Aynesworth Green, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, was found in possession of crack cocaine and 50 diazepam tablets by police in the town’s Lancaster Road in April last year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Judge Robin Onions yesterday handed Bond 32 weeks in prison for possession of the cocaine and a consecutive eight weeks for the diazepam, suspended for 18 months.  

He was also placed under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months and told to pay £100 costs. He had admitted the charges in July last year.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said that on the night of his arrest on April 19, 2008, Bond was stopped by police who believed he was acting suspiciously. He said a search at the scene revealed the tablets in Bond’s left sock and 1.5 grammes of crack cocaine in his right sock, and a later strip search also found a further 0.217 grammes of crack cocaine in his underwear.

Judge Onions said: “Mr Bond has been appearing in court now for 33 years probably most of the magistrates and judges who sentenced you have long gone but here you are at the age of 48 still offending. It’s a miracle you have survived this long.”

Mr Timothy Harrington, for Bond, said his client had now engaged voluntarily with the community substance misuse team.