A single father bought drugs after finding himself homeless, a court has heard.

Patrick David Sean Byrne, aged 40, of Room 3, Brodeifion, Cardigan, appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to possession of 50.1g of Class A drug diamorphine and 2.78g of cannabis in Cardigan on April 3.

The court heard that drugs were found on Byrne’s person after he was approached by a police officer in the early hours of the morning.

David Williams, defending, said his client was going through a ‘particularly difficult period’ at the time of the offence

He said: “It was exacerbated by the fact that he was homeless, and had his young son in his care. He was extremely stressed about that.

“Because he has in the past been a user of heroine, he went back to buy heroine as a form of relief. He paid £100 for the drug and at the time he was stopped he had not actually consumed any of it.”

Mr Williams added that Byrne had voluntarily referred himself to a drug intervention programme, had now secured accommodation for himself and his son, and was setting up a gardening business.

He said: “In terms of stability, his life has improved significantly.”

Magistrates fined Byrne £110 for the Class A drug offence and £85 for possession of cannabis. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

A destruction order was made for the drugs.