A repeat offender received a hefty fine yesterday in Magistrates' Court after admitting to possessing crack cocaine near a nursery school.

Raymond Burgess, 29, of Court Street, pleaded guilty to possessing 0.09 grams of the controlled drug cocaine in an increased penalty zone, Kids Kollege.

The court heard from Crown counsel Robert Welling that on January 8 at 8.45 a.m., officers were on duty at the junction of Court and Elliot Streets and saw the defendant eating in front of CR's Discount shop.

When Burgess saw the Police, he turned around and ran inside the store. Officers followed him inside and told him he was going to be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During the search, officers found a brown paper twist containing a white rock. When asked what it was, Burgess said: "Crack".

The drug was taken to the Government analyst and revealed to be 0.09 grams of the controlled drug crack cocaine with 97 per cent purity.

The 29-year-old was fined $1,000 for cocaine possession and an additional $3,000 for being in an increased penalty zone. He also received a nine-month suspended prison sentence because of his similar previous convictions dating back to 1994.