A DRUG dealer who pleaded with a judge not to jail him because he feared it would mean his dog being put down has not been put behind bars.

Steven Wells was caught in a police raid at his home moments after he had sold some cannabis to a man.

And, when officers searched the premises, they found thousands of pounds worth of the drug as well as signs of dealing on his mobile phone.

But a judge at Swindon Crown Court was told the 47-year-old’s dog was ‘very important’ to him and he feared he would be destroyed if he was jailed.

Chris Smyth, prosecuting, told the court that police raided a house in Bathampton Street, in the Railway Village, on the evening of July 3 last year. Once inside, they found Wells, who had answered the front door, and another man in the living room.

In the other man’s pocket, officers found two small bags each containing about an eighth of an ounce of cannabis.

He said a number of other items were also seized including a set of scales which were in an open drawer next to some cannabis leaf. “It looked like this was in the middle of a supply being made,” Mr Smyth told the court.

He said the total weight of cannabis seized from the house was 339.38 grams which had a street value of £2,908 if broken down to £30 deals.

Officers also found £200 in cash in a safe and a mobile phone which had text messages on it suggesting it had been used for dealing drugs.

Mr Smyth said one text on it read ‘OK, how much do you want mate?’ and others had similar sentiments.

Wells pleaded guilty to supply, possession with intent to supply and possession of a small quantity of cocaine.

Richard Tutt, defending, said his client was a very heavy user of cannabis, getting through a quarter to half an ounce of the drug a day.

“To his mind that assists the medical conditions he suffers. So far as supply, he sits at the very lowest end,” he said.

“It is commercial supply but to known users. Money from that supply goes towards funding Mr Wells’ own habit.”

He said were he jailed he stood to lose his council accommodation and he feared his dog would have to be destroyed as there was not one else to care for it. “Very important to him is his dog. He is terribly concerned if he is sentenced in that way today nothing is to happen to the dog but to be put down and he is very concerned about that.”

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said: “You are a man of 47 and you have had a cannabis problem for many years and that has got you into this latest trouble. I accept that you suffer from ill health and I confirm in my sentencing remarks that I am satisfied that you yourself perceive that you have a serious condition and in your view it can be alleviated by the use of cannabis.

“Cannabis is now a class-B drug. Dealing in cannabis is a very serious offence warranting imprisonment.”

He gave Wells a 10-month jail sentence suspended for a year and imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew for three months and told him to be under supervision for a year.