WHEN POLICE went to a Stroud man’s house looking for a stolen e-bike they found not only the £1,000 Raleigh Strada but also quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, a court was told yesterday.

Robert Watkins, 48, of Westward Road, Cainscross, Stroud pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court to handling stolen goods and possession of the Class A drugs.

The offences were committed at the defendant’s address on November 8, 2018.

Said prosecuting lawyer Jeremy Oliver: “The police found the stolen bike chained up to a pipe in the basement of the defendant’s home

“They also found small quantities of heroin and crack cocaine - 0.4 grams of each, which is consistent with personal use.”

Defending lawyer Miguel Blanco said: “The defendant was a drug addict but he is now clean. He greatly assisted the police at the time and it was only £30 and £40 worth of Class A drugs. It is also a very old offence.”

Magistrates fined Watkins £80 and ordered him to pay £40 towards prosecution costs.