Man caught with cocaine after trouble flares in city centre bar
A quality control worker fell below required standards when he carried drugs in Sunderland city centre after watching a football match.
Leighton Aslett, 34, was first detained by police on suspicion of a bar room assault – and then found with a small bag of cocaine.
Officers reviewed CCTV from the Yates bar, in Burdon Road, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.
It revealed Aslett, of Gleneagles Road, Grindon, acting aggressively and making a headbutt motion at around 5.30pm on Saturday, May 22, the day of Sunderland's game against Lincoln City.
Butitdidnotshowevidence ofhimlaunchinganyassaultor making contact – and he was not charged with any attack.
However, he did confess to being in possession of drugs and acting in a way as to cause harassment,alarmordistress.
Prosecutor Lillian Yanes Hellevik said: “Police were contactedinrelationtoreports that a male had been assaulted in Yates’ public house.
“The offending male had left on foot. Officers attended the scene and found the defendant in Borough Road.
“Theyspoketohimandcarried out a search and found a small bag of white powder. When asked what it was, he said, ‘Cocaine’.
“No further action was taken about the alleged assault, but officers returned to Yates’ and reviewed CCTV footage.
“The defendant can be seen in an aggressive manner, shoutingandmakingamotion
of a headbutt towards an unidentifiedmale.Hedidn’tmake any contact.”
Magistrates heard Aslett had six previous convictions from six offences, including two for possession of cocaine in 2011 and 2014.
Sandra Fife, defending, said: “He had been out to the Sunderland match.
“Hesaysthatagentlemanin the bar was saying something to him, which he ignored, but then he was at him again.
“Heacknowledgeswhatthe footage shows but says he had no intention of headbutting.
“One drugs' matter is ten years ago, and one is seven yearsago.Thisissomeonewho isn’t dependent on drugs. It’s a small amount for his own use.”
Aslettpleadedguiltytopossession of class A cocaine and causing harassment, alarm or distress.
For the drugs offence, he was fined £311, with £85 court costs. He was handed a conditionaldischargefortheharassment offence.