Michael Netherwood, who only recently turned 20, and the boy each had resealable plastic bags containing the drug.

He had 23 tablets, while the youth had 27.

Netherwood has pleaded guilty to charges of supply an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, possess or use a prohibited weapon without a permit and a back-up charge of possess a prohibited drug.

Solicitor Mark Cronin said that following a case conference between the defence and the prosecution, the matter was now ready to go before the District Court for sentence.

“Would your honour also order a sentence assessment report?” he asked magistrate Imad Karim-Abdul.

Albury Local Court has been told how police saw Netherwood, then 19, and a younger teen crossing Dean Street on May 17 last year about 8.55pm.

The pair then walked down Westpac Lane together.

Soon after, police said, Netherwood and his co-offender crossed Dean Street and got into a silver Ford Falcon, then drove off.

Police followed the car and soon after, activated their warning lights in order to pull over the car.

The car did just that and after they got out, the pair were searched.

“Police asked the offender if he had anything illicit in his possession,” Mr Karim-Abdul was told.

Netherwood said he did not, so they asked him to empty his pockets.

He pulled out his mobile phone and then his wallet.

But in his wallet was a thin, credit card-sized utility knife, so Netherwood was placed under arrest and cautioned.

“I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to carry a knife,” he said.

Police said they continued to search Netherwood.

“The offender removed from his pants a resealable bag that contained 23 green tablets with ‘Superman’ printed on them,” police said.

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A search of the boy revealed his stash of 27 like tablets.

Both were told they were under arrest over drug matters before being taken back to the Albury police station.

Police then examined Netherwood’s phone.

“There was a message thread between the offender and the young person in which they discussed purchasing the tablets,” police said.

During his interview with police, Netherwood said he had the knife to protect himself.

He admitted to possessing the drugs, which he believed were ecstasy or MDMA tablets.

Some of the tablets were for supply, some for personal use. The total weight was 6.38 grams.

Mr Abdul-Karim accepted Mr Cronin’s submission and ordered the preparation of a sentence assessment report for Netherwood.

The case was adjourned and he will remain on bail until he is sentenced during District Court sittings to begin in Albury on April 1.