A HOMELESS man who already has court debts of £1,000 has been let off with a conditional discharge for possession of the drug Spice.

Wayne Galland, 51, was searched by police on August 7 last year after a member of the public reported people using drugs in the area of The Bars roundabout in Chester.

He was arrested and made no comment in interview – but later pleaded guilty to possession of Spice, formerly known as a ‘legal high’ but now an illegal class B drug.

Chester Magistrates Court heard he has a number of previous convictions, including two for threatening behaviour and one for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order last year.

However, he has never been convicted of a drugs offence so magistrates said they could be “quite lenient” with him.

Howard Jones, defending, said Galland had a history of drug use, financial difficulties and homelessness but was working with city charity Chester Aid to the Homeless (CATH).

The defendant, who lives in homeless support accommodation on Nicholas Street in Chester, was given no fine but must pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The court heard he currently receives £121 in benefits every fortnight and already owes the court around £1,000 in fines and costs.

His latest bill will be added to the running total and taken from his benefits in regular instalments.

The conditional discharge means no further action will be taken as long as he stays out of trouble for the next 12 months.