RAYMOND Joseph Dawson turned to illegal drugs to help with medical problems.

Blackburn magistrates heard that heart attack victim Dawson used cannabis as a relaxant and decided to try cocaine for pain relief after developing toothache.

Dawson, 50, of Hancock Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of both drugs and was remanded on bail until July 26 for pre-sentence reports.

Charges of possessing with intent to supply against Dawson, his partner Julie Pollard, 41, and their son Raymond Dawson, 18, both of Roe Lee Park, Blackburn, were withdrawn.

The court heard that 51 grammes of cannabis and four grammes of cocaine were recovered during a police raid at the address in Roe Lee Park.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Dawson had always maintained the drugs were his and nothing to do with his partner of 23 years or their eldest son.

He said Dawson accepted that he had smoked cannabis for a number of years but had not realised its full medicinal qualities until his heart attack five years ago.

"It is something he has always done in the privacy of his home and it has never led to any offending."

Mr Blacklidge said Dawson had been suffering chronic toothache but because of his heart condition could not simply go to a dentist.

"He had been prescribed a significant amount of painkiller and that was wearing him down, said Mr Blacklidge. "He was told cocaine had pain-killing qualities and decided to try it".