Drug dealers found after car stopped over seatbelts

WHEN police pulled a car over because its passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, they discovered that there was a more serious crime being committed.

Officers could smell cannabis in the car, then found drugs worth nearly £3,000.

Appearing at Gloucester Crown Court, Anthony Hodges, 26, and Clayton Treadgold, 20, both pleaded guilty to possession of the drug with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Susan Cavender said police found £170 in the pocket of passenger Hodges, of Princess Elizabeth Way, Hester's Way.

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Then £2,730 of cannabis was found in the car.

Treadgold, of Mill Lane, Prestbury, had £125 in cash on him.

Ms Cavender said: "Three mobile phones were found in the car, which showed evidence of dealing."

Defending Hodges, Edward Hetherington said his client was a "teenage tearaway" and his parents had been on national television to emphasise this in the past.

In 2003 he was given an Asbo preventing him contacting his family, but was then said to be getting his life back on track.

Even his mum had written to the court saying she had seen a change in him recently.

Judge William Hart spared Hodges an immediate prison sentence.

He told Hodges: "You present a problem. You are a man with a dreadful record and you have been to prison many times.

"But I have been persuaded to give you a chance today. Sometimes a chance has to be taken. We will see if your mum's right and the change that she has detected in you is genuine."

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 18 months, supervision, a drug rehabilitation requirement and 200 hours unpaid work.

Defending Treadgold, Judith Kenney said he was a young man with no previous convictions who was studying sport at Hartpury College and was trying to become a bodybuilder.

She said he fell in with a bad crowd.

He was given 26 weeks detention, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.