A Devonshire man who admitted possessing drugs and drug equipment in an increased penalty zone has been bailed to appear in Drug Treatment Court.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, 61-year-old Dennis Warner admitted having crack, heroin, cannabis resin and a scale within 300 metres of the Devonshire Recreation Club and Prospect Primary School on August 11 last year.

Prosecutor Kenlyn Swan told the court that police officers executed a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at the defendant’s address at about 1pm.

They saw Warner, who was holding something in his right hand and sitting on the bed, throw a brown paper twist containing a white rock-like substance and a clear plastic straw containing a plastic twist with brown powder on the floor.

Warner was arrested and sat on the steps outside of the residence, where an officer saw him reach into his pocket and throw a lighter on the ground. This was found to contain four plastic twists in the gas chamber.

Warner was taken to Hamilton Police Station while officers continued to search his residence and seized a foil wrap containing a brown gel-like substance and a set of scales.

During an interview at the police station, Warner admitted that the seized items belonged to him.

Ms Swan said it was later determined that he had 0.45 grams of heroin and 0.18g of crack. Traces of the drugs were also found on the scales. However, the amount of the gel-like substance, which was found to be cannabis resin, could not be determined.

In court today, Mr Warner said: “I am in drug addiction treatment at the moment. I’ve been there for the last three years. I relapsed at that time.”

Ms Swan, who noted his previous convictions for similar offences dating back to 1978, asked that Warner be dealt with in Drug Treatment Court.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe ordered a drug assessment and told the defendant he was sending him to Drug Treatment Court.

Mr Wolffe granted Warner $2,000 bail with a like surety to attend today’s session.

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