A man swimming naked in the middle of Norwich tried to avoid being arrested by throwing cannabis into the river. 

Tony Barnes, 42, was skinny dipping with friends near Cow Tower when police officers on patrol noticed his stash of drugs amongst the discarded clothes. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he snatched a cannabis grinder from one of the officers and threw it into the water but it was later recovered with traces of drugs still inside.

Barnes, of Hubbard Close, Wymondham, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and obstructing a police officer over the incident on September 2 last year. 

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He also admitted a second charge of possession of cannabis following being involved in a car crash on Boxing Day.

Police found drugs after it fell out of his pocket after he had been taken to hospital for his injuries, the court was told. 

After being told he had one previous drugs offence but had committed no other offences for the past eight years, magistrates made him subject to a conditional discharge.