A BUSINESSMAN has been found guilty of selling cocaine kits at his gift shop.

Nabeel Maqsood, 26, was convicted at Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday morning for supplying or offering to supply articles to administer or prepare controlled drugs.

In December last year, his store, The Gift Centre, in Stockton High Street, was raided when it was found to sell the cocaine kits.

The kits, which cost £13, consisted of a razor blade, mirror, tube and metal spoon.

He had £7,000 worth of stock seized by police in the raid, but said at the time that his store was not the only one in the town selling the kits.

He said at the time: "I do not think it is fair that I am the only person who has been picked on like this. It makes no sense. I would have sold that stock. Some of it was ordered and I am going to have to refund people."

Yesterday, he was fined £300 and ordered to pay £300 costs.

A police spokeswoman said: "This sends out a clear message to anyone thinking of profiting from such kits."