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A man who laughed at police when they found no drugs in his pockets was later found to be hiding a bag of cocaine in his penis, a court heard.

James Mason told the officers, "ha ha, told you I had f*** all on us you mugs", when they searched him after a disturbance at a student accommodation block.

But the 21-year-old was taken to the police station anyway for being drunk and disorderly "after one too many swear words".

On the way to Forth Banks the officers noticed that Mason was fiddling with his sock and put his hand down his trousers.

He was then strip searched at the station, where he "pulled a bag of white powder from his penis".

Mason, of Dowling Avenue, Whitley Bay has now been fined after pleading guilty to possession of a class A drug and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

North Tyneside Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard police were called shortly after 10pm on October 17 to a disturbance at Manor Bank student halls, near Manors.

When officers arrived they saw a man in the outside courtyard talking to a security guard.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Prosecutor Bethany Jendrzejewski said the man was holding a bottle of Sambuca, "appeared to be unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and he smelled of alcohol".

She told the court: "The police formed the opinion he was drunk. They were informed the male had been involved in a disturbance inside the premises and possibly had drugs in his possession."

The officers told Mason they were going to search him, to which he replied, "F*** off, you're not searching me."

He then said: "Ha ha, told you I had f*** all on us you mugs" when they found nothing in his pockets.

Ms Jendrzejewski said: "He was warned about his bad language and told to leave the area.

"But he replied: 'I'm going to go back in there and f****** smash their heads in, the mugs'."

Mason was cautioned for being drunk and disorderly and taken to Forth Banks police station.

On the way the officers saw him "starting to fiddle with his sock and put his hands down his trousers".

They handcuffed him " to stop him messing with his clothes" and put in a request to strip search him when they got to the police station, which was granted.

At that point, Ms Jendrzejewski said: "He removed his trousers, pulled back his foreskin and pulled a white bag of powder from his penis.

"The defendant was asked what it was and replied that it was cocaine."

Mason was fined £120 after magistrates said they had "rarely seen such an example of foolish adolescent behaviour".

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge."