A man found with 16 wraps of heroin and cocaine in Broadmead has been handed a 12-month community order.

Akin Coker, 40, of Old Market Street, Bristol, admitted possessing Class A and C drugs and two cans of pepper spray on March 14.

Judge Neil Ford QC, who said there was no evidence Coker was a drug dealer, told him: "Despite your lengthy history of drug use and recent relapse, people speak highly of your motivation to seek help for your drug problems."

The judge said Coker should have six months of drug rehabilitation included in his sentence.

Paul Ricketts, prosecuting, said it was at 1.45pm on March 14 when two police officers in Broadmead saw the defendant and searched him.

The officers found a plastic bag with 16 wraps of drugs which turned out to be eight heroin wraps at 46 per cent pure, and eight cocaine wraps at 30 per cent pure.

"He was also found to have £140 in cash consisting of £10 and £20 notes," Mr Ricketts said. "On arrest he said the drugs were for his personal use."

Mr Ricketts said later that day a search of Coker's house was carried out when two canisters of pepper spray were found, £405 and subutex tablets – a pain reliever used to come off heroin.

"In interview he said the wraps were for his personal use, he said he keeps them on him and 'That's the risk I run'. He said the subutex was given to him by a friend to numb the withdrawal from heroin.

"He said he had bought the pepper spray four years prior whilst on holiday in South Africa visiting his brother and it had never been used."

Mr Ricketts said Coker's cash was accounted for as he had been working as a self-employed plumber earning £200 to £2,000 a week cash in hand.

Coker had previous convictions for dishonesty.

James Cranfield, defending, told the court his client now received housing benefit and income support, as did his partner, and he had an extremely young baby.