Drugs and knife found when police stopped car

A CANNABIS dealer was caught with drugs and weapons when police stopped and searched his car.

Conor Lee was pulled over in Abbey Park Road, Leicester, at 7.40pm on March 5 last year.

A passenger fled the scene. But Priya Bakshi, prosecuting, told the city’s crown court officers searched Lee’s vehicle and found “various bags of cannabis” collectively worth about £440.

There was also a kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade and an unused pepper spray can.

Miss Bakshi said Lee’s two mobiles were analysed and messages about selling cannabis were found.

There was also a message offering to sell a pepper spray for £40.

At his home, three small cannabis plants were being cultivated in one room with plastic lining the walls and the electricity was powered by a transformer.

The plants could have potentially yielded about £2,000 worth of cannabis, on the streets.

Lee, of Hillsborough Close, Glen Parva, admitted producing cannabis, possessing cannabis with intent to supply, having a bladed article in a public place and possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious substance.

The court heard Lee, who had no previous convictions, had since turned his life around for the better and was no longer involved in drugs and was more interested in a healthier lifestyle, pursuing physical fitness and training.

He had also secured a job with a tile company.

Queenie Djan, mitigating, said: “It’s his first interaction with the criminal justice system and he’s very remorseful.”

Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown said: “Learn a lesson from your first court appearance. If you come back here again you’re likely to end up going down.

“I think you were paddling in the shallows of the drugs world.

“You shouldn’t have had a CS spray or a knife in your car, or been dealing in cannabis, let alone growing three plants at home.

“I’m impressed you’re in work enjoy it. “Life is good when you have a job and earn your own money.”

Lee was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.