A DRUG dealer who stashed thousands of pounds of cannabis at his friend's house has landed them both in court.

When police raided Christopher Taylor's home in Ingleby Barwick, Jack Thrower admitted to officers that all the drugs belonged to him.

Teesside Crown Court heard how £3,700 worth cannabis was recovered alongside, zip lock bags, digital scales, three unregistered mobile phones, £1,443 in cash and a 'tick' list.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said Thrower had been living at his friend's house for a couple of months at the time of their arrest in October 2019.

The court heard how Thrower had no previous conviction but his co-accused, Taylor, had been convicted of possession of cannabis with intent to supply from a later date.

Taylor, 24, of Beacons Lane, Ingleby Barwick, pleaded guilty to allowing drugs to be stored at his address while 24-year-old Thrower, of Esk Lane, Stockton, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of cocaine.

The Northern Echo: Christopher TaylorChristopher Taylor

Michele Turner, representing Taylor, said her client's case had been delayed due to Covid restrictions while he was serving a custodial sentence for dealing in cannabis.

She said: "He is very lucky in many ways, he has an extremely supportive family and the property was his own. His father was a dentist who retired, sold his practice and used some of the money to buy that property.

"He is in a much more positive position than many other people his age. He understands that he is fortunate in many ways and has let his family down badly."

Shaun Dryden, representing Thrower, said his client has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity at magistrates' court.

He added: "He appears to have had a problem with cannabis, a problem he couldn't afford and has then gone to sell cannabis to friends and acquaintances."

Judge Recorder Andrew Sutcliffe QC sentenced Thrower to a year in prison, suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work while he sentenced Taylor to ten months, suspended for 12 months.

He added: "You Thrower, immediately accepted that those drugs were yours and that you had a serious drug habit and you were making money from dealing in those drugs to feed that habit and make a profit."