A cannabis addict got in over his head after clocking up a debt to his dealer.

Leighton Say, 22, began selling the class B drug in order to fund his own habit, Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday.

Gareth James, mitigating, said his client became indebted to a dealer. “He was then pressured into dealing himself and, indeed, he did so – principally dealing with the supply of cannabis.

“He was then pressured to become involved in cocaine but resisted the temptation.”

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He did, however, give in to temptation. Although the vast majority of messages found on his mobile phone and linked to drug dealing referred to cannabis, with a handful asking for ‘Charlie’ – slang for powder cocaine.

Earlier, prosecutor Sophie Stannard told the court that police raided Say’s home on March 21, 2020.

A search of the property revealed 80g of cocaine – worth around £3,500 on the wholesale market – and eight grammes of cannabis. Also in the house was a set of scales and other paraphernalia associated with dealing drugs.

Mr James said that his client had been ‘warehousing’, or storing, the cocaine for bosses higher-up the chain.

Say was now trying to ‘rehabilitate’ himself, he said. “What you have here is a young man who exposed himself to risk but was then pulled into the offending behaviour and has taken real steps to address that.”

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Recorder John Hardy QC was told that Say had been convicted of a different offence, not stated in open court, since the drugs matters came to light. He was working well with the probation service and had completed a third of his unpaid work until his deteriorating health left him unable to complete the outstanding hours.

Asked by the judge why it had taken so long for the matters to reach the court, prosecutor Ms Stannard said she had not received an answer from the prosecution service. She pointed to the phone messages in the case, but added: “That doesn’t really excuse why it has taken quite so long to get this far.”

Sentencing him to 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, Recorder Hardy said Say would have to complete up to 30 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.

“Those courses are designed to help people in your position. They are not punishments and they help you to behave better, which in turn benefits the community and all those around you,” he added.

Say, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs and possession with intent to supply them.