A DRUG dealer who set up a ‘cottage industry’ supplying niche cannabis products has been warned that if he uses it again he will go to prison.

When police raided Robert Brooke’s home they discovered cannabis butter in his fridge and cannabis ‘shatter’ – a super-strength version of the drug – as well £2,665 in cash stuffed in a wallet.

The 35-year-old, who has a longstanding addiction to the Class B drug, was supplying cannabis to friends and neighbours.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Brooke's home was raided in June 2018.

Robin Patton, prosecuting, said the defendant told officers where they would find the cannabis stashed in a drawer as well as the cannabis butter in the fridge and his wallet.

He said: "When he was interviewed he said the cannabis was for his own use and it was grown at a friend's house. He had four plants and it had taken 12 weeks to grow and the cannabis was from that crop.

"He admitted making the cannabis butter in the fridge – he also admitted he indulged in cannabis shatter."

Mr Patton said Brooke was unemployed at the time and as well as the cash in his wallet there was an additional £1,000 in his bank account.

Brooke, of Skelton Road, Brotton, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to a single charge of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug.

Martin Towers, in mitigation, said his client had been a longstanding user of cannabis and at the time he was arrested he was in possession of £2,000 worth of the drug.

He told the judge how Brooke only supplied a select number of people, including friends and neighbours as he urged him not to jail him.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said described Brooke's set-up as a 'cottage industry' rather than the more usual street dealing enterprise.

He said: "It has clearly being going for some time, it's more akin to a cottage industry. You had more than £2,500 in your sitting room and £1,000 in bank, so it is a cottage industry you have been able to make good returns from."

Brooke was sentenced to 12 months custody, suspended for two years.