Falling off the wagon while tackling a drug habit which stretched back to his childhood led to a £235 bill for a local chef.

Jonathan Hilling formerly of Osprey Drive, Haverfordwest, now of Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and MDMA when he appeared from Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, July 10,

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Hilling was arrested and released without charge for an unrelated matter on April 10.

“While at the police station he was searched and found to be in possession of two amounts of drugs.”

Mr Pritchard-Jones added that Hilling, 32, had previous convictions for drug offences, and had admitted the substances were his.

He was found to be in possession of 26 grams of cannabis and 1.86 grams of MDMA.

Mike Kelleher, defending, said: “Mr Hilling accepted in interview that the drugs were for his own personal use.

“He has been taking cannabis since the age of 11. It is a very hard habit to get out of.”

Mr Kelleher added that Hilling had taken steps to address his drug use with the help of professional organisations, had moved out of the Haverfordwest area, and secured two jobs.

“In the last two to three months he has made big strides to prevent this type of thing happening. It has been the bane of his life.”

In interview Hilling told police he was doing his best, but had fallen off the wagon on that occasion.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

A destruction order was made for the seized Class A and Class B drugs.

The chairman of the bench said: “It was obviously a very foolish thing to get caught with. You know the law of the land.

“I really appreciate that you now seem to be turning your life around.”