BRADLEY Cockburn, the Walton man charged with possessing cocaine and ecstasy told a court he initially lied about his knowledge of the drugs because he feared jail.

BRADLEY Cockburn, the Walton man charged with possessing cocaine and ecstasy told a court he initially lied about his knowledge of the drugs because he feared jail.

Cockburn, 34, of High Road, Walton near Felixstowe, has denied two offences of possessing cocaine and ecstasy tablets with intent to supply.

But he told Ipswich Crown Court that he admitted possessing the drugs.

Giving evidence Cockburn said he had initially lied about not knowing about the drugs because he feared he would be remanded in custody.

He said he had bought 100 ecstasy tablets for £150 about a week before his arrest and had bought them in bulk so he could get them cheaper. He said he was taking six or seven ecstasy tablets a day to help him blank out the problems in his life.

Cockburn said he took so much ecstasy that he wouldn't be able to sleep for three nights and then took cocaine to help him sleep.

Earlier the court heard that police officers who carried out a drugs raid at a flat in Walton found ecstasy tablets, cocaine and £1,620 cash.

Cocaine worth between £180 and £280 and 66 and a half ecstasy tablets worth more than £350 were found in a plastic container in a cupboard.

The cocaine was split into five small plastic bags and a large quantity of the small plastic bags were found in an airing cupboard, said Hugh Vass, prosecuting.

"The prosecution say they are the sort of bags used to retail drugs," said Mr Vass.

Mr Vass said that Cockburn had initially denied having anything to do with the drugs found in his flat.

However, he admitted possessing the drugs after his fingerprints were found on two plastic bags in the plastic container holding the drugs.

He told police he had recently been divorced and kept cash in his flat rather than in the bank because the Child Support Agency was after him.

The jury is expected to consider its verdict today.