A MAN from Whitehaven will be sentenced next month for the illegal possession of a syringe in a public place.

Aaron Jones, 25, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning (fri).

Jones admitted the offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.

The item in question was a syringe which the defendant had at Ling Close in Northside, Workington, on 8th August.

The court heard Jones’ guilty plea was entered on the basis that he was an intravenous drug user at the time.

Advancing some mitigation during the short court hearing, his barrister, Anthony Parkinson, said of that syringe: “He could have left it at home. He didn’t do.”

Judge Nicholas Barker heard Jones, of The Gardens, Whitehaven, had a previous similar conviction on this record — dating back to 2014 when he was a juvenile — which could trigger the impose on of a minimum six-month jail term.

But Judge Barker adjourned the case for the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report seeking more background about Jones. This will be considered, along with the facts of the offence, at his sentencing hearing.

This is due to take place at the crown court on 14th November. In the meantime, Jones was granted unconditional bail by Judge Barker.