Frome couple had been using drugs since childhood

A Frome couple who were found to have about £3,000 worth of drugs hidden around their home admitted they had been using various substances since they were childhood sweethearts.

When police carried out a search of Christopher and Yvonne Eden's home they found secret stashes of cannabis and amphetamine hidden in tins, bags and containers in outbuildings in their garden.

When Mrs Eden returned home to find officers at her address she admitted she had more cannabis in her handbag and after she was arrested her husband gave himself up at the police station.

Christopher Robert Eden, 38, and Yvonne Helen Eden, 34, both of Leaze Road, pleaded guilty to two joint charges of being in possession of quantities of cannabis and amphetamine when they appeared before South Somerset and Mendip Magistrates.

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Prosecutor Gordon Richings said that when a search warrant was executed at the couple's address neither defendant was present.

"The garden and outbuildings were searched and a quantity of drugs paraphernalia was found," he said.

"They then found a black metal tin containing green vegetable matter, plastic bags, a wallet, white powder and scales and other containers with various substances inside.

"Under the airing cupboard in the house they found a shoe box containing a dried cannabis plant stem with the head still attached and when Mrs Eden returned home she was arrested."

When both defendants were interviewed by police they said the drugs were all for their own personal use and they told the police where they had bought it from.

The total amount of drugs seized were 282gm of cannabis with an estimated street value of £2,800 and 80.62gm of amphetamine worth around £800.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said the couple had not paid the amount estimated by police as they had purchased the drugs in bulk and therefore got it considerably cheaper.

He said the couple had been together for 20 years and only smoked it in an outside shed away from other members of the family.

"They were taking cannabis daily but Mrs Eden has now been referred to Turning Point and Mr Eden stopped using drugs immediately," he said.

"It was a habit they got into and did not realise the harm in it. However the embarrassment of being arrested and having to come to court means that they will not be going back to this as they now have to explain it to their family."

The court was also told both defendants were extremely remorseful for what they had done and their arrest had been the wake-up call that they had needed.

The magistrates fined Mr Eden £360 with a £36 victim surcharge and £85 costs for possession of cannabis. Mrs Eden was fined £110 with a £20 victim surcharge and no costs for the same offence.

No separate penalty was imposed for possession of the amphetamine but an order was made for all the drugs and paraphernalia to be forfeited and destroyed.