A SMALL time drug dealer caught with a stash of cannabis in Rugeley has escaped with a suspended jail sentence.
Jobseeker Kyle Mitchell was arrested by police after he was seen acting suspiciously in the town centre.
Nick Burn, prosecuting, said Mitchell produced a bag containing cannabis with a street value of around £130.
Officers also found he had a set of digital scales and plastic bags. His mobile phone revealed text messages relating to supplying individuals with cannabis.
When questioned, Mitchell said he had been dealing cannabis to friends and a select group of users around the Rugeley area.
Mitchell, 20, of Mulberry Road, Cannock, who admitted a charge of possessing drugs with intent to supply, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years with drug rehabilitation and ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid community work.
Judge Mark Eades said Mitchell had turned to drug dealing to fund his own addiction and for some small commercial gain.
Stafford Crown Court heard Mitchell had a previous conviction and a formal warning for possessing drugs.
Rachel Thompson, defending, said: “He was simply supplying to close associates, he wasn’t seeking to introduce anyone in to drugs. He’s used cannabis himself for a substantial period of time.”
