A NEWPORT man has been given a suspended sentence after amphetamines were found in a sandwich bag in his freezer.

Keith Wannell, aged 59, of Constable Drive in Newport, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a class B drug at Cardiff Crown Court on February 27, 2015.

Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday how police executed a search warrant on his address in Newport on July 21, 2014.

Wannell had been sitting in his living room when PC Craig Andrews discovered a Braces bread bag in his freezer, which contained six rip seal bags of a paste-like substance.

A total of 279g of amphetamines were found, with one per cent purity. Wannell was immediately arrested and gave a no comment interview at Newport Police Station.

In his statement to police, however, he admitted to purchasing the drugs that morning to supply them to his friends.

Summing up, Judge Michael Fitton acknowledged Wannell’s early guilty plea and the fact he had no previous drugs offences.

He said: “Your ambitions were clear: you and a group of friends were sharing responsibility and cost.

“But, you’re old enough to know better and if this helps you sort your life out, all the better.

“Hopefully, this will help you focus on your conduct.”

Wannell was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a 12 month supervision order.

He will also have to do 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and pay a victim surcharge of £100.

Judge Fitton also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized.