A young man who had to be called home by his mum when the drugs squad raided the family house has been spared jail.

Willian Bryson, 22, was found with a stash of cocaine stored in his bedroom after police arrived with a warrant to search the premises.

But after a judge heard the trainee scaffolder supplied only a few friends a judge decided not to jail him.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how police with a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act had gone to Bryson’s home on Friday, March 1.

“He wasn’t, in fact, in. His mother phoned him and he came back,” Mr Meeke told the court.

“On being told what it was about he led them to his bedroom, where 17 wraps of cocaine were found.”

He said the packages of cocaine weighed between 0.81 grams and one gram, with a total weight of 15 grams. A sum of £400 in cash was also discovered.

Bryson claimed initially that all the drugs were for his own use but eventually accepted he would have sold some to friends.

Bryson, of Pembroke Street, Old Town, pleaded guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Rob Ross, defending, said: “He indicated to the police, when asked ,‘Have you ever supplied to anyone?’, ‘not for sale but obviously helping a mate out’, “What he says is if a friend wants some he will let them have it and they will give him what he paid for it.

“All we have to go on is the two or three lines of admissions that he would help out a mate once in a while.

“I would submit he wasn’t a drug dealer in any way. He was in work, able to buy some drugs and would give some to friends.”

He said he was working with a local scaffolding firm on about £250, which will go up to £450 when he is qualified.

“He is someone who has foolishly put himself in the situation of being in the crown court. He has never set out to be a, quote unquote, drug dealer in any sense at all.

“The fact he is sitting here behind me, with you about to pass sentence, has probably frightened him into not using cocaine ever again.”

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “You are beginning to understand the affects class A drugs have.

“By selling class A drugs you really do have the potential to ruin people’s lives.

“I take into account what you have said to probation, that you have abstained from taking drugs since your arrest. I hope that is true.

“At this stage in your life you remain motivated to remain drug free and do something for your problem. Since your arrest you have found employment, good employment.”

The judge said he had been persuaded that he could not impose immediate custody, but warned Bryson if he did the same again he would face a lengthy jail term.

The judge imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for two years and told him to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.