AN ELLESMERE Port man has avoided prison after being convicted of possessing cocaine and stolen credit cards.

John Garner, 41, of Flint Court, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday after being convicted of five offences including obtaining goods and services by deception and attempting to obtain goods and services by deception.

He was also found guilty of possessing cocaine pipes, and possessing stolen credit cards and jewellery.

The court was told Garner had pledged two diamond rings for £100 at Ellesmere Port Money Shop which had been stolen earlier from a home in Newnham Drive.

Garner was arrested on February 21 after he and a woman attempted to buy goods from the Adidas store on Cheshire Oaks with a stolen visa card.

Managersbecamesuspicious after asking Garner security questions, they called for the police but the two walked out sayingtheyhad topickuptheir children. They fled in the direction of the M53.

Police attending a road traffic accident involving the female accomplice recognised Garner and arrested him. In the back of the police van money fell out of Garner's pockets, as he went to pick it up several stolen credit cards dropped to the floor. When asked whose they were he replied: 'I don't know.'

On searching his home police found screwed up envelopes with practice signatures of namescorrespondingtothe stolen cards. They also found drug paraphernalia with traces of cocaine.

When questioned, Garner denied burgling the houses and said he had been given the cards by a man named Rob and had also realised that the rings had been stolen.

Garner previously appeared at ChesterCrownCourtbefore Judge Huw Daniel who had made an order for him to be assessed for his suitability to attend a drug treatment and testing programme.

Defending, Gareth Roberts said Garner was currently looking after his girlfriend following the accident. She appeared in court on crutches and with her arm in a sling.

Mr Roberts said she was usuallywheelchairboundand Garner was her sole carer.

The Recorder of Chester, Judge Elgan Edwards, sentencing, said Judge Daniel had been right to order the assessment and he would abide by the decision that Garner was suitable for the drugs programme.

He ordered Garner attend the programme for 18 months.