A MAN who admitted possessing drugs with a street value of about £1,500 said he was using them to lose weight.

Police raided the home of Simon Charlton and found 52.2 grammes of the party drug M-Cat and 28.3 grammes of a similar substance MDPV.

Officers also found a number of clear plastic bags.

The 25-year-old, of Shepherds Place, Droitwich, said he bought the drugs from the internet before they were made illegal.

Mr Dodson, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said: “He was interviewed by police and said he bought the first substance about six or seven months before it became illegal.

“He said he used it to keep the weight off.

“The second he used as an energy enhancing drink which he used when going to the gym.

“He said both were used for personal use.”

Fergus Maxwell, defending, said his client had been to the doctors and was suffering from a condition which made it difficult for him to lose weight.

Mr Maxwell said: “Since the age of 18 he has been struggling with weight control.

“He wasn’t using the drugs for their euphoric effects. They are usually taken by sniffing them but he was mixing them with liquids to use as an energy drink.

“He bought the drugs from the internet and believed them to be legal highs.

“They were not controlled drugs when he bought them initially.

“He is now seeking legitimate intervention through his GP to deal with his weight problem.”

Charlton, who pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a class B drug, has one previous conviction for possessing cannabis.

Magistrates fined him £100 for each offence and ordered him to pay £85 in court costs.

An order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was also made.