A HEROIN user who gave himself up after jumping his bail for nearly three years was turned away by police, magistrates were told.

Sajad Hussain went abroad for more than two years after he was caught with a £5 residue of a wrap in Worcester.

When he returned home, he surrendered himself but was turned away by police who mistakenly thought there was no warrant out for him.

"He tried to surrender to the warrant but was rebuffed," said David Taylor, defending the 23-year-old at Droitwich Magistrates Court yesterday.

"The police said they had no record of any warrant outstanding. He kept asking me 'What's happening, Mr Taylor?' He wanted to get this sorted out."

Father-of-one Hussain returned to Worcester 12 months ago after going abroad to stay with relatives.

In December 1998, he tried to give police the slip when they spotted him "unsteady on his feet" at the Commandery filling station spitting out a foil wrap, said Julian Harris prosecuting.

Hours earlier, at midnight, police had spotted the car in which he was travelling down Tybridge Street.

They had watched the passenger door open and close abruptly, but failed to find the car after carrying out a vehicle check.

Hussain, of Albert Road, off Wyld's Lane, admitted possession of heroin.

Mr Taylor said Hussain had been "mixing with the wrong sorts" at the time of the offence.

"Concerned about the potential trouble, he went abroad to other family members," said Mr Willis, explaining the delay between the offence and yesterday's hearing.

He said Hussain was now a hard-working family man who was taking a part-time computer course to "better himself."

Hussain, who also admitted breaching bail conditions, was fined £75 for possession, £75 for breaching bail and ordered to pay £55 costs.