A WEST Cumbrian drugs offender was caught with 'skunk' cannabis worth almost £3,000 when police raided his home.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Egremont man John William Moore, 37, who had earlier admitted possessing the class B drug with intent to supply, was told he will face a lengthy spell in jail if he continues to deal in the drug.

The court heard that police arrived unannounced at the defendant’s Beck Green home in Egremont on March 6, 2020.

During a search of the property, the officers discovered 283g of skunk cannabis, with a street value of £2,870.

They also seized a number of mobile phones, which when examined showed that Moore had a “customer base” for the cannabis he was selling. When he was interviewed by police, he claimed the cannabis they found was for his own use.

But he later pleaded guilty to having the drug with intent to supply.

Recorder Tony Hawks was told that the defendant’s criminal record consists of 26 previous offences, which included assault and dishonesty. Significant among those previous offences was one in 2014, when Moore was jailed for a similar offence, the court heard.

Recorder Hawks told the defendant: “You have got a poor record, but most significantly you were sent to prison in 2014 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

“I read from your record that you have had a problem with cannabis all your life; so you better sort it out because if you don’t you are a marked man so far as the police are concerned.

“If you start trying to sell it again, you will end up in prison for a significant period of time… The choice is yours.”

Yet a background Probation Service report about the defendant was positive and the judge noted also the lengthy period of time since the offence was committed and it reaching a final court hearing.

These factors enabled him to suspend the “inevitable” jail term he would impose, said Recorder Hawks.

He imposed 15 months custody, suspended for 18 months. In addition, the defendant must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days. As the case came to an end, the Recorder again addressed Moore.

He told him: “I can’t tell you how to live your life but I can tell you that in this country, whether you like it or not, cannabis is illegal and the supply of it to anyone else; people who do that go to prison… If you get into this sort of trouble again with the police you will [go to prison].”