A DRUG dealer who was caught almost two years ago with wraps of cocaine in his car has finally faced justice.

Danny Farrelly was arrested in September 2018 when he was spotted by police parked in the grounds of the Darlington College site in Catterick Garrison.

A search of his car revealed he had £1,560 worth of the class A drug in his vehicle as well as cannabis, which was for his own personal use, and £270 in cash.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the cocaine had been cut up into one gram and half gram deals ready for sale and drug paraphernalia, including weighing scales, was also recovered.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said a search of his mobile phone showed that the 26-year-old had been dealing in drugs two months before his arrest.

The barrister said: "In police interview he said he was never pressured to engage in drug dealing and had been dealing for a about two months and gone to his seller two or three times and each batch he made £300."

Farrelly, of Constantine Avenue, Colburn, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine with intent to supply at an earlier hearing.

The father-of-two, who represented himself in court, apologised for his behaviour after reading out character references, including one from a former police officer and another from his former partner's father, who called on the judge to give Farrelly a suspended sentence.

Farrelly said he had turned to drug dealing after losing his job but was now back in full time employment, although he said he faced losing that if he was given a custodial sentence.

Judge Deborah Sherwin said: "The reason you were doing this was because you last your job and were in considerable debt at the time. You were persuaded to that you would be able to make some money – it would have seemed to you the answer to your prayers but it was not."

Farrelly was given a two year custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge added: "When someone from probation gets in touch respond to them and don't be as daft again."