Albury pensioner sighted by police leaving a known drug-dealing premises

Both magistrate Richard Funston and prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Pike suggested to him that this might seem pointless given he clearly appeared unwilling or unable to stop using drugs.

Michael Charles Bishop had asked for the equivalent of a good behaviour bond without conviction on the single charge of possessing a prohibited drug.

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But Mr Funston asked Bishop in Albury Local Court this week if he was definitely sure that he could abide by what was now known as a conditional release order, given it was an undertaking to not break the law.

He said he would.

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Earlier, Mr Funston told Bishop that it was time he gave up his habit, which the 63-year-old pensioner revealed had lasted for two to three decades.

"It's ridiculous for someone of your age to be using amphetamines for 30 years," he said.

"Go and get some counselling."

Bishop initially told Mr Funston that his drug use had never got out of control, but then immediately admitted that "I guess I'm a drug addict".

"I've just become a grandfather," he said.

"I've got to pull my finger out."

Police were on patrol in Wantigong Street, North Albury, on June 9 just before 12.30pm when they saw Bishop leaving a house "known to police for drugs".

They stopped and spoke to Bishop "for some time" then, on "reasonable suspicion" he might have illicit drugs, told him he was about to be searched.

He had one gram of methamphetamine in a pocket of his pants.

Bishop was put on a 12-month conditional release order, without conviction.

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