A Birmingham man appeared in court three years after being found in possession of controlled substances, having taken responsibility for confiscating drugs from a close relative. Ezekiel Tulloch, 26, of Ketley Croft, Highgate, was discovered in November 2023 with less than 2 grams of cocaine and a quantity of cannabis.
During police questioning, Tulloch chose not to disclose the identity of the relative from whom he had taken the drugs, a decision explained in court by his solicitor, Ms Begum. She told Birmingham Magistrates' Court that the drugs were not his and that he intended to dispose of them after confiscation.
Tulloch pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug (cocaine) and a Class B drug (cannabis) at his hearing on Tuesday, 28 July. It was noted that he was found with two large bags of cannabis and 1.94 grams of cocaine at the time of his arrest and custody.
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Mitigating, Ms Begum highlighted that Tulloch admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity and reiterated that his intention had been to remove and discard the substances. When questioned by District Judge Murray about why he had withheld this explanation during his 2023 police interview, she explained that Tulloch was reluctant to provide details about the relative involved.
The court was informed that Tulloch has not committed any offences since the 2023 incident. Judge Murray expressed surprise at the three-year delay before the matter reached court and subsequently issued a conditional discharge lasting nine months. The judge emphasised the importance of staying out of trouble during this period, warning that any new offences would result in the case being reopened.
In addition to the discharge, Tulloch was ordered to pay £109 to the court, with instalments of £25 per month.