A FORMER window cleaner who was spared jail last year after making a ‘career choice’ to become a cannabis dealer has admitted returning to the drug trade.

Reece Hicks was put on a one year suspended sentence in July 2016 after a court was told that he now had a promising career as a roofer.

But now the 25-year-old has been warned he could be facing prison after admitting possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Hicks, of Chesterfield Close, Westlea, admitted having the class B drugs on Thursday, March 16 this year, and breaching the suspended sentence.

He pleaded not guilty to possessing criminal property in the form on cash and prosecutors said they would not seek a trial on that.

Hicks was put on the one year jail term suspended for 24 months just eight months before his arrest.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the money seized in relation to the not guilty plea would be confiscated at sentence.

Judge Robert Pawson adjourned the case to Friday October 27 and released him on bail until then.

He said “You have pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply to others and at the time you were on a suspended sentence. That is a serious matter.

“The fact that I am granting you bail shouldn’t be taken as any indication by you as to what the sentence should be.

“Don’t think ‘He’s giving me bail so he is not going to sent me to prison.’ All options are open.”

Hicks was first arrested police raided his home on Friday April 15 last year and found £8,000 worth of cannabis, £1,370 cash and a mobile phone with drugs messages

He admitted selling up to £360 worth of the drug a week and had been doing it, regularly, for about four months.

The court was told he had a history of crime with offences of violence, robbery and drugs possession.

Probation officer Karen Fowler said he told her he had now not smoked the drug since he was arrested and was now working two days a week as a roofer.

Passing sentence last year Recorder Malcolm Gibney said “Unfortunately it seems your career choice, that is my judgement it is what it was, prompted you to dealing locally, albeit in class B drugs, to make easy money with a good return.

“It is clear you knew what you were doing. The fact that the police had to execute a warrant at your house means they knew what you were doing and caught you in the act.

“Fortunately that career choice only lasted four months. A considerable sum of money was seized.

“I see that you have a new career and I am told, and I accept a promising career as a roofer, a more worthwhile career choice.”