A SUSPENDED jail term has been handed to a young Carlisle man who sold cocaine to fund his £100-per-day drugs habit.

Tom Kendall, who was 19 when he began supplying the Class A drug to people he knew, was caught after police raided his bedroom in the home where he lives with his father.

Now aged 22, he admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply, as well as a single count of possessing the class B drug cannabis.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, said police discovered the evidence they needed after raiding the defendant’s home and searching Kendall’s bedroom, where they found 19.2g of 75 per cent pure cocaine.

They also found digital scales, £1,100 cash and a debtors list on the defendant’s phone with the details of 17 drug “customers” who collectively owed Kendall £4,000. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Marion Weir, for Kendall, whose address was given as Oaklands Drive, Upperby, Carlisle, said the defendant’s life changed after he went through a relationship breakup and began using cannabis.

“He got in with the wrong crown and was using £100 worth of cocaine per day,” said the barrister. “That was his habit.

“So he took the easy way in terms of financing his habit and it all came to a head on this date in May. Since that time, his life has changed dramatically. He is embarrassed and ashamed – particularly regarding his parents and the shame that he has brought on his family.”

Kendall’s parents were in court to support their son.

The defendant had not touched illegal substances since his arrest and he was now a qualified bricklayer who was in full-time work, said Miss Weir. He also had a supportive girlfriend and this week passed his driving test.

Judge Nicholas Barker said he was satisfied that Kendall had been dealing cocaine for a considerable period before he was caught. “It’s a serious matter,” said the judge.

“Class A drugs ruin lives. People become readily addicted; their lives fall apart. They are unable to get jobs and they steal to pay for their drugs. They burgle people’s houses to pay for their drugs.

“They hold people at knifepoint and rob them to pay for their drugs. Their health deteriorates and they are a burden on the health services because of their poor health.  Their lives are...ruined because they use Class A drugs and because they are available.

“That is why dealing in Class A drugs is so serious.”

Judge Barker said he suspected Kendall had enjoyed the idea of “being a drug dealer” for some of his friends, and thus not thinking about the consequences. But the judge said he also accepted that Kendall now realises “how wrong what he was doing was.”

He imposed 20 months jail, suspended for two years. The sentence includes 20 rehabilitation activity days and 220 hours of unpaid work.