A CANNABIS user who has taken the drug since he was 13 was found with a package of the substance between his buttocks, a court heard.

Unemployed George Robert Hall, 20, had already handed over one envelope containing the drug to police before two more were found during a search, Darlington Magistrates Court heard yesterday(18).

David Maddison, prosecuting, said the police had been called to the nightclub Inside Out, in Beaumont Street, Darlington, after a report of a van outside causing a disturbance.

When officers approached the van, they spoke to Hall and noticed it smelled strongly of cannabis. He was taken to the police station.

On the way there, Hall handed an officer an envelope containing about 10-worth of cannabis.

He was searched at the station and two more envelopes were found, one hidden between his buttocks. Both contained a similar amount of the drug.

He told police he had bought the three bags for personal use.

Mr Maddison added that Hall had no previous convictions, but at the time of the incident had been on police bail following an investigation into possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said Hall was seeking help from his GP to address his use of the drug, which had smoked on and off for seven years.

He said his client had recently lost his job and was anxious to stop using the drug as he was struggling to afford it.

"He doesnt want to fall into future criminal activity to finance the habit," added Mr Andrews.

The incident happened on January 11.

Hall, of Hundens Lane, Darlington, pleaded guilty to possessing 5.6gms of cannabis. Magistrates fined him 65, ordered him to pay 85 costs and a 15 victim surcharge, and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.