A JUDGE has warned a man who peddled cannabis ‘you’ll be answerable to me’ if he fails to comply with the terms of a suspended sentence order.

Samuel Fenton was given the warning after Judge Douglas Field ruled that the public interest was best served by him getting treatment so he could conquer his own drug habit.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the police executed a search warrant at his home on June 7. She said a quantity of dry herbal matter was seized from the property along with a mobile phone.

When the handset was examined she said it was found to contain a number of messages relating to the supply of skunk cannabis. She said they referred to deals from an eighth of an ounce up to half a pound in weight and possibly more.

When he was questioned by the police, he admitted that he had been involved in supplying the drug for about three and a half months.

Fenton, of Larchmore Close, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to the supply of cannabis between the start of the year and June 8.

In the past, he had been put on a community order for a variety of offences including the cultivation of cannabis.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client had set up his own business and had brought the certificate of incorporation from Companies House as well as his business diary.

“He had worked hard to turn his life around. I don’t feel this is a young man you are going to see again,” he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Field said: “You were very close to going straight to prison: you were involved in a very serious offence. Having read the pre-sentence report I am satisfied that your offending is directly related to your problem with cannabis and that should be addressed by you with the assistance of the drug rehabilitation people... You can regard yourself as being fortunate in being dealt with in this way. If you breach that you will be answerable to me.”

He imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for a year plus the drug rehab order and 130 hours community service.