A LABOURER caught with cocaine in his pocket at a McDonald's restaurant in Tamworth has been given a community corrections order.
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Nicholas Dobson, 34, pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited drug in Tamworth Local Court this week.
Staff at the South Tamworth McDonald's called police at about 7pm on November 7, last year.
Those staff members called police after Dobson was witnessed leaning on a bin outside and dropped a clear plastic container on the ground.
Nearly 40 minutes later, police officers arrived and found Dobson standing alone outside the dining area, still leaning on the bin.
According to facts tendered in court, police described him as "disheveled with blood shot eyes" at the time and "appearing to be moderately to well-affected by alcohol".
Dobson was ordered to wait in the dining area while police cautioned and searched him.
In his pocket officers found a small plastic container filled with white powder.
Dobson told officers the substance was cocaine.
The drugs were then seized and Dobson was arrested.
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He was then transported to Tamworth Police Station where the drugs were weighed at 16.14g.
Officers said the drug had an estimated street value of $2500.
After a few hours in custody, Dobson's level of intoxication had decreased and police then performed a DNA swab.
Magistrate Julie Soars convicted Dobson and sentenced him to a 15-month community corrections order. He was ordered to abstain from drugs and attend appointments with a psychologist.