A MAN caught with a stash of drugs which he claimed was to supply among friends narrowly escaped a prison sentence.

But a judge warned Paul Clennell that any repeat would almost certainly land him behind bars.

Durham Crown Court heard that Clennell was seen acting suspiciously by a police community support officer, in an alleyway, off Front Street, Chester-le-Street, on December 12, last year.

He was stopped and searched, revealing 16 small plastic packages containing 3.55g of ecstasy and 6.01g of the class B drug methadrone, or MCat, which were said to have a street sale value of £280.

Liam O’Brien, prosecuting, said £170 in cash was recovered from various pockets, while his mobile phone contained text messages dating from June last year, indicative of the supply of “controlled substances”.

Twenty-year-old Clennell, of Lyne Close, Perkinsville, near Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of class A and B drugs, with intent to supply.

But, Mr O’Brien said he indicated it was on a basis that he was in possession of the drugs having bought them with £150 pooled resources of himself and a circle of friends, intending to share them among those few people.

Mr O’Brien said the basis indicated that he was not a regular dealer selling to “random individuals”.

He explained that the messages found on his phone were between the same individuals who had pooled their resources to buy the drugs.

Judge Christopher Prince commented: “So, it’s a case of a ‘buy and share collective’?”

Tony Davis, for Clennell, agreed, but told the judge: “He hasn’t touched drugs since.

“In his pre-sentence report there is a reference to the fact that he was hoping to find employment.

“Well, he has now done so, and works away in London from Monday to Friday.

“He hopes to go on to become a fitness instructor.

“As a result of finding work he’s in a position to pay any costs or fine imposed.”

Judge Prince imposed a 12-month community sentence, to include 150-hours’ unpaid work, and ordered Clennell to pay £500 costs at the rate of £100 per week.

But he told him: “If you were being dealt with as a street dealer in the drugs, you would be going straight to prison.

“But, it’s accepted that you were the, ‘face of the collective’.

“You’ve sailed close to the wind. If you act as a purchaser for your friends again, you’ll be going to prison.”

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered drugs and money.