A DOLGELLAU man told police that the white substance found in his car was bicarbonate of soda, but tests revealed that there were traces of cocaine, the local magistrates heard.

Paul Andrew Humphreys, 52, Garth Maelan Bach, Dolgellau pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, a class A drug on 9 February at Queens Square, Dolgellau.

Rhian Jones, prosecuting, said that the police tested the white substance and reports showed that there were traces of cocaine.

She told the court that the police discovered three small bags containing cocaine on the road.

Humphreys, who was not legally represented said that he was held in Dolgellau police station for three hours when the police found the three bags. “The bags were nothing to do with me,” he said.

“Seven times the police have searched my home and my cars and they have not found anything. I only possessed cocaine for half an hour, yet the police are trying to say that I am a dealer,” he said.

Court clerk Alex Peate told Humphreys that he was not being charged with supplying cocaine; “The charge is possession,” she said.

“ I have had 15 years of this, (the police) trying to make out that I am a drug dealer,” said Humphreys.

The court heard that the defendant was a full time unpaid carer for his mother and did not have any income. His mother paid the household bills and his wife worked for the NHS.

Humphreys was fined £120 for possessing cocaine with £85 prosecution costs and £20 victim surcharge. The traces of cocaine to be destroyed.