A man found with more than £3,000 worth of cannabis in bags and tubs around his home has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Officers who searched James Preston’s address in Deighton Road, on November 10 last year also recovered a can of CS gas.
Robert Stevenson prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court that Preston was not initially present but returned while officers were there.
Among the drugs were seven self-sealed bags of cannabis in a Tupperware tub, another 33 bags in another tub and a bin liner was found in the kitchen containing £1,400 of cannabis which he was in the process of bagging up.
Digital scales were also found along with empty bags while two bundles of £20 notes totalling £400 were recovered from a bedside cabinet.
Preston told officers he had bought the CS spray for £5 at a car boot sale because he had been having some trouble at the time.
Adam Birkby representing him said the spray was intended to help his estranged partner who had been having problems with a man following her.
He said Preston was a long time cannabis user starting at the age of 12. He had amassed a drug debt over some time and was dealing small time to try and pay it off.
Preston, 31, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid.
Recorder Graham Cook told him he was prepared to give him a chance, imposing an 18 month jail term suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work.
