A DRUG dealer caught bringing £6,000-worth of cannabis to the North-East was jailed for two years.

Brian Hare was a passenger in a Mitsubishi Warrior pulled over by police on the A1(M) in County Durham at 5.15pm, on May 10 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that a police search of the vehicle uncovered two plastic tubs containing a total of 33 plastic bags.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court the bags contained a total of more than one kilogram of skunk cannabis, which he said could fetch about £6,000 in street-sale terms.

Mr Dryden said two mobile phones seized by police contained text messages indicative of drug dealing, while one contained photos of a cannabis farm, showing the electricity meter being bypassed.

He told the court the drugs recovered from the car appear to have originated from outside the North-East.

When interviewed Hare made no reply, but at an earlier hearing the 40-year-old, of Craven Cottages, Station Town, east Durham, admitted possession of the class B drug with intent to supply.

The court heard he has drug offences on his record for which he has served two previous prison sentences.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, handed character references to the court from Hare’s employer, a property development company, and his brother.

Mr Constantine told the court Hare was in “dire financial straits” at the time, with mortgage arrears.

“He was presented with an opportunity which he felt was too good to turn down. He said her would make about £1,000 profit, having paid £5,000 for the drugs.

“His intention was to sell among a circle of friends and acquaintances who were already users.

“He’s been a cannabis user himself, but is trying to cut down with a view to stop taking it altogether. He said he wants to get out of this environment as he has a job.”

But Judge Christopher Prince told Hare he had read the references which point out that the defendant was affected by the recession.

“Many people are affected by the recession, but don’t go out to start dealing in drugs.

“You have a lot of ability and you served in the Royal Engineers for five years and you have qualifications, but you also have a significant record for drug offences.

“You set about this in a determined and cynical manner to pay off mortgage arrears.

“It’s clear you have been dealing in drugs just to make money.

“You played for high stakes and you lost.”

* Following a two-day trial last week, a jury returned a not guilty verdict on a co-accused, a 40-year-old Trimdon Colliery man who was driving the car pulled over by police.

He denied possessing a class B drug with intent to supply