An addict who bought £100 worth of heroin after he missed a prescription of methadone has been handed a nine month conditional discharge by magistrates.

Richard Smith, aged 36 and of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to the possession of a Class A controlled drug at Weymouth Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Richard Oakley, mitigating, said at 3.50am on January 2, police attended the car park at the Spar shop on Dorchester Road after a report of suspicious activity in a car.

Officers found three men in the vehicle who 'appeared to be concealing something' and the car was searched.

A small metal tin was found on the front passenger seat which contained a brown substance.

Smith admitted to be in possession of Heroin which was later confirmed to be 1.84 grams.

Mr Oakley said Smith was on a daily methadone script but due to the bank holiday, Smith had been given extra methadone. Smith made the prescription last longer than anticipated and subsequently missed his next prescription.

Lee Christmas, defence said: "He was given more and made it last but because he didn't go back to get the next prescription, he had to reapply."

Mr Christmas added this had caused a two week delay in Smith getting the methadone prescription.

"He knows in that two weeks he is not going to cope, so he bought heroin," Mr Christmas said.

He added Smith was now back on his methadone script.

Smith was given a nine month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £20 victim surcharge.