A TEENAGER with a “heavy cannabis habit” found in possession of an estimated £2,800 worth of the drug has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Samuel Gillies, of Avenue Road, Weymouth, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting an offence of possessing the class B drug with intent to supply.

The 18-year-old had also pleaded guilty to possessing the class A drug MDMA and possessing a prohibited weapon, relating to a CS canister.

Prosecutor Adam Norris said that on August 5 last year Gillies was on his bike in Weymouth when he was approached by officers and attempted to evade them but was arrested. Officers found a bag Gillies had discarded containing the CS canister. A search was also made of his address and police found a total of 280grams of cannabis as well as a pink tablet that was found to be MDMA and various drug paraphernalia.

When interviewed Gillies admitted the items were his but denied any dealing was taking place. His phone was searched and was found to have various text messages that Mr Norris said “indicated dealings were taking place”.

The court was told that Gillies had previous convictions for possession of a class B drug but Richard Tutt, mitigating, said that this was his first appearance as an adult.

Mr Tutt added: “He was simply supplying to fund a very heavy habit he had.” He said that Gillies was supplying to friends and people who were known cannabis users and he did not know that the possession of the CS canister was illegal.

Judge Jonathan Fuller sentenced Gillies to eight months in prison, suspended for a year, and also imposed a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

The judge warned Gillies that he was giving him a “last chance” and that he was highly likely to receive an immediate prison sentence if he breached the terms of the sentence or got into further trouble.