A JOBLESS drug addict had a £280-a-week habit but received just £56 a week in benefits, a court heard yesterday.

Jack Hammersley-Gonsalves paid for his super-strength skunk by selling cannabis and minding other substances for his dealer.

The 20-year-old was stopped in his mother's Mercedes in Guisborough, east Cleveland, and police were taken aback by the pungent smell coming from the car.

Hammersley-Gonsalves had £6 worth of cannabis in a bag he tried to swallow, and £69 worth of PMA - tablets similar to Ecstasy.

Teesside Crown Court heard how an examination of his mobile phone revealed text messages from 11 different people asking for drugs.

Hammersley-Gonsalves told police he had been smoking dope since he was 14 and sold it every couple of days to feed his £40-a-day habit.

Julian Gaskin, mitigating, said the defendant had moved away from Guisborough since his arrest in February last year, stayed out of trouble and got a job.

The time-served joiner has set up home with his girlfriend in County Durham, and is "desperate" to beat his addiction, said Mr Gaskin.

"He has proved himself for the last 12 months by getting himself a job and moving out of the area," he added. "He is very much at a crossroads.

"He was out of his depth with other more sophisticated individuals. He says he got involved in the wrong circle and got dragged into it."

Hammersley-Gonsalves, of St Oswalds Court, Newton Aycliffe, admitted supplying Class B drugs, possessing Class B with intent to supply, and possessing Class A with intent to supply.

He was given a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision, 300 hours' unpaid work and a bill for £250 court costs.

The judge, Recorder Mark McKone, told him: "I'm taking a chance on you. I hope I haven't got it wrong. I don't want you to let me down."