A SELF-employed scrap dealer moved his family from Skipton across the border to Earby because he wanted to get away from ‘Dodge City’ heard magistrates.

Gareth Greenwood, 40, moved away from the town after his former home in Beamsley Court, Skipton, was subjected to a police drugs search warrant, the court heard on Friday, last week.

During the search, on December 3, last year, officers, with a dog, found a small amount of cocaine stored in a plastic tub in a garden shed at the rear of the property.

Prosecuting, Martin Butterworth, said it was a small amount of cocaine, Greenwood told police it was for his own use, and there was no evidence to suggest he was dealing in the class A drug.

Greenwood, who admitted the possession of a Class A controlled drug, was not a drug user and had at no time been addicted to drugs, the court heard.

In mitigation, John Mewies, said Greenwood was a family man with six children and had decided to get himself and his family away from Skipton.

“He refers to Skipton as Dodge City and is now living across the border. He is in full time employment as a self-employed scrap dealer,” said Mr Mewies.

Greenwood, of Colne Road, Earby, was fined £140 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. A forfeiture and destruction order was made on the drugs.