Derry Court: Suspended sentence for 'visibly shaking and nervous' driver found with drugs

When police stopped a car for a traffic matter they noticed the driver was 'visibly shaking and nervous' and they subsequently found drugs in the vehicle Derry Magistrate's Court heard today.

The man who appeared charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply on on May 20 had been granted anonymity due to the general threat in the city.

The court heard that police stopped a car on Old School Lane and spoke to the driver who displayed signs of nervousness.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 1000 Diazepam tablets in the car.

The driver told police that the drugs were his and had nothing to do with a female in the car with him.

His phone was seized and he made full admissions claiming he was 'heavily addicted and self medicating'.

Fifteen messages were found on his phone to two people concerning the sale of cannabis.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said his client had been stopped 'by chance'.

He said that the there was no real intent to supply as the man 'was only poisoning himself.'

The man was sentenced to two months in prison suspended for 18 months.