A former drug mule has been fined £60 for possessing crack cocaine.

Kareem Musson, of Turret Lane, Ipswich, admitted the offence when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said the 31-year-old was caught when police carried out a search warrant on a property Musson had gone to on August 5.

Officers discovered a small wrap of crack cocaine in his sock.

The court was told Musson had said he began using the Class A drug a few weeks ago as it helped him relax. He admitted he had been a regular user of cannabis, although he was not addicted to crack cocaine.

Musson told police he had bought the drug for £10 and had put it in his sock to have later in the day.

Ms Small told the court Musson, who is from Bermuda, had previously been sentenced to a four-year jail term for a drug offence.

Mark Holt, representing Musson, said the defendant had a previous conviction for drug importation when he came over from Bermuda.

He was released from his sentence on March 4, 2011, but had chosen to stay in England as he had been a drug mule for gangs and was scared of repercussions.

Initially Musson had lived in London, but had come to Ipswich three months ago to live with people he knew from Bermuda.

Mr Hold said his client is now without accommodation or employment. He was at someone else’s address when he was arrested.

The court heard Musson intends to return to London to live.

Magistrates fined him £60 and ordered him to pay £20 to the victims’ fund along with £40 towards prosecution costs.