A CANNABIS dealer was caught with hundreds of pounds stashed in his pants.

Mohammed Karim was caught by police with cannabis worth around £150, together with £2,160 in cash and texts on his phone indicating he was dealing drugs.

But the 25-year-old telecommunications engineer’s brief claimed his drug dealing was a “weekend adventure” that lasted around a month, with the conviction likely to have a significant impact on his life. She also pointed to the man’s poor health, saying Karim had recently suffered a stroke earlier this year.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court dressed in a grey three-piece suit and clutching crutches, Karim, of Broad Street, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and driving his BMW M3 convertible while over the drug drive limit.

Karim had been picked up by police along Marlborough Road, Swindon, on September 22 last year. Analysis of his blood revealed he had cannabis in his system.

He was also found to have £410 in cash in his underwear. Searches found a further £1,700 at his home.

A mobile phone was discovered to contain text messages indicating his role in dealing drugs, including a request for “20 please, mate”.

Prosecuting, Pauline Lambert said: “The amount of cash found in his car at the time of the arrest, the amount of cash in his bedroom and the messages contained in the phone are consistent with him involved in drug supply.”

Magistrates heard Karim was a man of previous good character and full of remorse. Defending, Sam Arif said: “This was almost like a weekend adventure.

“I wouldn’t say this was an isolated incident as such, but an isolated period of offending that clearly has stopped.”

A drugs conviction would have a significant effect on his career: “He is going to suffer quite serious consequences as a result of his guilty pleas.

“He has been told by his company that as soon as he is disqualified from driving he will lose his employment. There is nobody else he can crew-up with and be an assistant to.”

Magistrates passed the case to the crown court. Chairman of the bench Jane Flew said: “We think this is a significant role [in dealing drugs] at best and possibly a leading role.

“We feel there are various factors in this case which we feel make it too serious for us to sentence you.”

Karim is due before Swindon Crown Court on Friday, March 29.