FORMER drug dealer David Burgess has avoided prison after admitting supplying cannabis and amphetamines in Cirencester.

The 52-year-old, of Siddington Road in Watermoor, was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, fined £2,000 and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £250 costs.

He had pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and amphetamines with intent to supply after being caught with 52 packets of cannabis ready for sale.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told Gloucester Crown Court yesterday that police raided Burgess' home on March 18 and found 119g of cannabis resin, another 12g of cannabis in a plastic bag, plus 52 individually wrapped cannabis deals of 2g each.

There was also 5.24g of amphetamine, a set of scales and 700 small plastic bags ready to fill.

The total value of all the drugs found was just over £2,700.

Burgess’ mobile phone was later examined and revealed that he had been selling £10 deals of cannabis.

Mrs Wood said: "He was interviewed and admitted he had been selling to mates. He said he bought in bulk and did it this way so he wouldn't have to go out on the street. He said he didn't make any profit."

Police also found £1,490 in cash but Burgess maintained all but £300 of it was from his mother, the court heard.

Stephen Thomas, representing Burgess, said he had a criminal conviction 25 years ago for an unrelated offence, and had been cautioned more recently for possession of cannabis, but had no other blemishes on his character.

Burgess was a building labourer who had been working diligently for the same employer for the last 20 years, Mr Thomas said.

A father to children aged 21 and 26, he now lives with his 73-year-old mother, who has mobility problems in both knees, and is her primary carer.

Sending him to prison would be a penalty for him but more so for his mother, added the solicitor.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Burgess he should cut down on his own consumption of cannabis to pay the fines.

The court heard that Burgess had been spending £100 a week on cannabis and, despite reducing this, was still paying out about £40 a week.

Judge Tabor told Burgess: "You have been dealing in cannabis for some time. You had a little business going on.

“You had 50 bags all ready to go. If you were distributing only to friends you had a considerable circle of friends.

"That said, you are a hard working man who has not been in trouble for a long, long time.

“You have got a mum who plainly needs you to help look after her and her mobility problems."