A FATHER who turned to drug-dealing and stealing after losing his job was yesterday spared prison.

David Clark, 33, was said to have been worried by his household’s perilous finances after he was made redundant.

Despite having a record with 88 offences, a judge let Clark walk free after hearing he was “a dedicated family man”.

Recorder David Dobbin was also told that Clark had rarely been in serious trouble for much of the past decade.

He imposed a 51-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, with Probation Service supervision for 18 months.

Clark, of Romford Road, Stockton, was also ordered to take part in a substancerelated offending programme.

At an earlier hearing, he admitted having Class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing Class B drugs and theft.

Teesside Crown Court heard that police raided Clark’s home on November 2 last year, and found £650 worth of drugs.

Brian Hurst, prosecuting, said officers also discovered £185 cash and a £400 mountain bike stolen in a shed break-in.

Duncan McReddie, mitigating, told the judge that a fulltime job was waiting if Clark was not jailed yesterday.