A PORT drug offender who went AWOL just a day after being allowed bail on a charge of having hundreds of illicit tablets has been spared jail.

James Moodie was freed for 24 hours prior to a sentencing hearing last month, having previously been remanded in custody over an earlier court no-show.

He sparked a fresh warrant for his arrest in early January after he opted to attend a pal’s funeral instead of appearing before Sheriff Craig Turnbull.

But Moodie, 39, who was caught with 427 diazepam tablets, has gone unpunished for the drug offence — and flouting his bail order.

The Telegraph told in January how he was originally charged with intending to peddle the pills until that allegation was dropped by prosecutors.

Moodie’s defence lawyer Chris McKenna told Greenock Sheriff Court: “He is aware that custody is a very real possibility.

“A close family friend had died and he was keen to attend the funeral.” Moodie was told last month that he was ‘fortunate’ that the Crown had accepted his plea to simple possession of the tablets. Police stopped him in Port Glasgow’s Teviot Road on 22 March last year and discovered he had 15 unmarked boxes of non-prescription diazepam.

Solicitor Mr McKenna said: “The tablets were very poor quality. He paid £75 for them.

“He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and tries to self medicate. He thinks this controls his symptoms and that it keeps him off heroin.

“He views diazepam as the lesser of two evils.” Sheriff Ian Fleming, pictured, deferred sentence on Moodie for six months for him to be of good behaviour.

He told him: “If you behave yourself then you will be dealt with leniently, but if not then all options are open for you.” Moodie, of Slaemuir Avenue, Port Glasgow, is due to return to court on 29 July.