A DRUG dealer has been given the chance to turn his life around after keeping out of trouble for the two years since he was arrested.

Phillip Pattinson had a large amount of cannabis in his house together with scales, sealable plastic bags and a book on marijuana stashed at his home.

Police stopped the 33-year-old when he was driving on Plymouth Walk, Hartlepool, in May 2020, and officers found a bag containing 112 grams of cannabis which had been divided into four one-ounce deals.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said a search of his house in Southwaite Close revealed another 522 grams of cannabis which was valued at £6,700.

Pattinson pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and possession of an offensive weapon, a knuckleduster he had hidden in his car.

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Paul Newcombe, mitigating, said the offences were committed against a backdrop of a collapsed relationship, poor mental health, and severe financial difficulties.

He added how his client was now holding down a responsible job as a lorry driver and was a ‘different man’ to the one who was arrested two years’ ago.

Judge Paul Watson accepted Pattinson was now a different person and sentenced Pattinson to 12-months in custody, suspended for 12 months.

He said: “The fact remains that you are in work, you have a good job with large responsibility. You are a different person to the man who committed those offences two years ago and since then you have kept yourself out of trouble.”

Pattinson was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

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