A teenage drug dealer who was caught when he ‘cut the corner’ in the car he was driving was working to pay of his debt, a court heard.

Samuel Tweddle was pulled over by police and when they suspected him of using cannabis the officers carried a search of the Peugeot 308.

Teesside Crown Court heard how heroin and crack cocaine was discovered stashed in the car as well as £120 in cash and a mobile phone, containing evidence of drug dealing, were seized from the 19-year-old.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested at around 9.30am on December 3, 2021, in the Newtown area of Stockton.

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Miss Haigh said officers recovered the heroin stashed inside a Kinder egg case and crack cocaine was rapped up inside a plastic bag.

Police valued the two Class A drugs as being worth between £390 and £520 for the heroin and £460 for the crack cocaine.

Tweddle, of Kimblesworth Walk, Stockton, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

Paul Green, mitigating, said father-of-one was dealing in the drugs to pay off his own debt.

He added: “He understands he needs to grow up and needs to take responsibility for his actions.”

Judge James Brown sentenced the teenager to 22 months in custody suspended for two years but warned him than any breach would result in an immediate prison sentence.

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“You are 19 and you are in Crown Court facing a very serious pair of charges. People who involve themselves in selling drugs should expect to go to prison.

"The reason is dealing in drugs causes untold misery to people – it has an appalling effect on people,” he said.

“You either take this chance or you don’t but I can guarantee that if you don’t comply with the suspended sentence you will go to prison.”

Tweddle was also ordered to attend a Thinking Skills programme, carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.