Officers went to Ashley Yapp's address in New Bolsover on 31st January and found £130-worth of cannabis and heroin worth £20.

Prosecutor Becky Mahon told Chesterfield magistrates last Wednesday that Yapp (24) said the drugs were for his own use.

He had previous convictions for possessing cannabis with intent to supply in 2003 and possessing heroin and cannabis in 2004.

Yapp admitted possessing cannabis and heroin and received a one-year probation supervision order, including a six-month drug rehabilitation programme with £60 costs.

In mitigation, Emma North told the court: "He suffers from conditions including arthritis and asthma and was using cannabis to relieve the pain.

"He had forgotten he had still got the heroin. He is on a methadone prescription and says he was not using heroin to top up the methadone."

Miss North said Yapp was receiving help from a mental health team and random drug tests showed he had been heroin-free for a number of years.

She added: "He has a partner and three children. He only uses cannabis in the attic after the children have gone to bed."