A CANNABIS dealer was told to “keep out of trouble and go away” by a judge who spared him immediate jail after hearing he had no previous convictions.

Judge Michael Taylor also said Lee Hansom, of Wiltshire Way, Hartlepool, had good sense to plead guilty at the first available opportunity to a charge of possession with intent to supply.

The 26-year-old was pulled over by police on January 14 this year in Kingsley Avenue, Hartlepool.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Teesside Crown Court that officers intended to examine his vehicle, but after opening the front door they immediately noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

A search of the car revealed a sports bag with almost 78g of cannabis in it with a street value of £779.

Ms Haigh said Hansom’s mobile phone, which was seized by officers, also had texts on it indicative of drug dealing.

Hansom’s barrister suggested any jail sentence on him could be suspended, to which Judge Taylor agreed.

He told the defendant: “You have not been in trouble before and for that reason you do not have to go to prison immediately.

“The sentence is six months, suspended for 18 months. Now keep out of trouble and go away.”