A man with previous convictions for drugs offences has been sent to jail for two-and-a-half years after admitting having cocaine and cannabis resin in his possession on Court Street and within an increased penalty zone.

Tamiko Kywon Wainwright, 30, of Union Street, Pembroke, pleaded guilty in court to having 3.87 grams of cannabis resin and 0.18 grams of cocaine when he was approached by Police officers on October 22 last year. Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said officers had been on patrol shortly before 10 p.m. that day when they saw Wainwright near the corner of Elliot Street and Court Street.

When he saw the Police he was reported to have dropped a brown twist to the ground and walked away in the opposite direction to the approaching officers.

The Police retrieved the twist and found it contained five foil packages. They then caught up with Wainwright and asked him about the twist, he remained silent. The officers told him they suspected that the twist contained drugs and placed him under arrest.

An examination of the material in the packages revealed it was cocaine and cannabis resin.

Appearing at Magistrates Court, Wainwright apologised for his actions. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, reviewing the defendant?s past record, said: ?You have not learned and you do not look like you have any intention of learning. It?s a waste. You are running around playing with drugs.?

For the cannabis resin possession Wainwright was given a 12-month sentence, with an additional one year for being within an increased penalty zone at the time of the offence ? he was within 300 metres of the Kidds Kollege and pre-school.

And for the cocaine possession he was given 18 months in jail and an additional one year for being in an increased penalty zone. The prison terms are to run concurrently.