A MAN'S tongue turned blue and he began to froth at the mouth before he was stopped from taking a further 20 Diazepam tablets.

Shaun James, 35, admitted to police at his interview that he had already taken two tablets before trying to swallow the rest of them when he was apprehended by security staff.

Prosecuting, Blair Martin told Darlington Magistrates' Court how security staff at Wilkinson's store followed James to the Cornmill Centre after they noticed him acting suspiciously.

Mr Martin added: "He admits taking two pills and was prevented from swallowing the rest.

"He was struggling to stand up, was frothing at the mouth and his tongue had turned blue."

James, from Cobden Street, in Darlington, pleaded guilty to possessing the Class C drug at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Leanne Galbraith, mitigating, said her client has struggled with a 14-year addiction to heroin and used the Diazepam to cope with his withdrawals.

Ms Galbraith said: "He has not used the drug since his last spell in prison.

"He was released last May and put on blockers to help him come off heroin, but they had produced a number of side effects.

"Because of this he decided to treat himself with the Diazepam tablets."

No order for costs was made against James, who was given a six-month conditional discharge.