A NEWPORT man admitted possessing the recently-banned drug, mephedrone.

Dale Hourihane, 21, of Tees Close, Bettws, appeared in Newport Crown Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty to possessing class B drug mephedrone with intent to supply and possessing class C drug trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, a recently-banned illegal ecstasy-type drug with the street name Legal X, before magistrates.

Prosecutor John Warren told the court Hourihane and another man, were stopped in a car in Bettws on June 18 last year, by police acting on intelligence that Hourihane was using the car to supply mephedrone.

Mr Warren said the defendant handed officers a small quantity of self-seal bags containing a total of 5.05grammes of white powder, which was later found to be mephedrone. Mephedrone was made a class B controlled drug in April 2010.

Officers found £460 in the car door and £163.16 in the central console of the car.

The court heard both men were arrested and their homes were searched. A further 201.72grammes of white powder was found in Hourihane's bedroom, along with a silver spoon and electronic scales, with traces of white powder.

Mr Warren said Hourihane admitted that a bag found at the other man's home, containing five white tablets which were found to be recreational drug, trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, was also his.

The court heard Hourihane initally told police he and some friends had clubbed together to buy the white powder from the internet and he believed it was a 'legal high' but in a later interview he admitted he knew it was mephedrone.

Representing Hourihane, Robert Hawkins, asked for the case to be adjourned as the defendant said he was told in magistrates' court that he would not face a custodial sentence and was only being sent to the crown court for Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

Judge David Morris agreed that the matter needed further investigation and adjourned sentencing until February 25. Hourihane was released on bail.