Drug addict threw heroin bag in front of a train as he fled from police in Shrewsbury
An addict threw a bag of heroin in front of a train as he attempted to escape from police at a Shropshire railway station, a court heard.
Alan Evans, 41, had been about to leave Shrewsbury Station when he ran back towards the platforms and got rid of the drugs as officers from British Transport police moved in.
Both Evans and his female companion had been tracked travelling by train between the Welsh coast, Wrexham and Shrewsbury, before they were arrested.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Evans was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Judge Jim Tindal said that, while Evans had a long record of petty dishonesty and shoplifting, and this was a very serious offence, he was prepared to give him a chance to 'shake-off' his drug addiction.
In addition Evans must complete a six month drug rehabilitation programme and pay £250 costs.
At a previous hearing Evans, of Cae Crwn, Machynlleth, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply in December last year on a basis of having been a courier and receiving £500 in cash to get a package to a person in Mid Wales.
The court heard Evans and a woman were first seen acting suspiciously at Aberystwyth Railway Station, when it appeared drugs and money were being exchanged.
Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said that CCTV footage showed the duo boarding a train to Birmingham which stopped at Shrewsbury at 5.20pm where they got off.
She said: "They were seen having a cigarette and then getting onto a train to Wrexham which arrived around 7pm. They were there for a short period before catching a train at 7.20pm back to Shrewsbury."
Miss Powis said that as Evans approached the barriers to leave the station he started to run back towards the platforms.
She said: "He had a large white bag which he threw onto the tracks in front of an approaching train. Both he and the woman were arrested."
Police recovered the bag which contained about 38 grams of heroin with a potential street value of £3,800 and a mobile phone that had content linked to drug dealing. The woman was released without charge.
Mrs Debra White, for Evans, said her client, who had been offered payment to act as a courier, had tried to get off drugs.
