A WORLE man who admitted to using drugs since the age of 11 has been fined for possessing heroin which he hid inside a Kinder chocolate egg case in his underwear.

James Groves, of Creswell Close, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse fresh from a trip to Spain - funded by his mother - for ‘detox’ reasons, which earned him praise from magistrates.

The court heard how Groves, aged 31, was followed by police on March 28 and, after an immediate drug search, found 0.1 grams of heroin. He was then charged with possessing a class A drug.

Leslie Ness, prosecuting, said: “At 2pm police officers received intelligence about Mr Groves.

“The officers saw him boarding a bus, they followed him and waited for him to exit in Worle.

“He was then detained for a drug search and he admitted he had drugs in his underwear.

“He had stored the drugs in a Kinder egg toy holder and police confirmed the substance to be heroin.

“He was interviewed and he said he had been a drug user since the age of 11 and had used heroin and cannabis.

“He said he bought a bag of heroin which cost him £10 and confirmed he kept the substance in the Kinder egg to keep it clean. He also agreed he had concealed it in his underwear.”

Groves, who represented himself, told the bench: “I have just been away on a trip in Spain for a detox and got back on Saturday.

“I have had nothing for 10 days, I have not taken any morphine or valium or anything.

“My mum paid for me to go away because she said I was turning into a bit of a wild person. I am now looking for help here, too.”

Chairman of the magistrate’s bench, John Kane, said: “We see you’re making some efforts and we commend you for that.

“You’re in a difficult position and you should take advantage of any help you can get, don’t try to do this all on your own, and good luck to you.”

Groves, who is currently on benefits, was fined £110 for the offence and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.