A village drug dealer caught with cannabis worth up to £4,400 has been allowed to keep his freedom.

Brian David Martin, 23, was the front seat passenger in a car travelling eastbound on the A64 in October 2022 when it was stopped by police, said Holly Clegg, prosecuting.

Martin had a small amount of cannabis on him and when police searched his home they found considerably more, most of which had been divided into individual deals.

Martin, of Selby Road, Crockey Hill, near York, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent.

Judge Simon Hickey told York Crown Court  because of the current state of the country’s prisons: “Judges have to look very carefully at whether people need to go into immediate custody.”

Although Martin had been supplying the drug, he was “clearly not a risk to the public” and had reformed himself since his arrest. Sending him straight to jail would have a significant impact on others.

The judge hoped that Martin had learnt his lesson.

He gave a nine-month prison sentence and suspended it for 18 months on condition Martin does 20 days’ rehabilitative activities.

Martin had no previous convictions.

Ms Clegg said there were four people in the car that police stopped, including Martin.

As well as the cannabis on him, he had a cannabis grinder.

Altogether including the cannabis he had at his home, police found 639.7g of the drug, a large part of which had been separated into 22 plastic bags, each weighing on average 27.8g.

If sold in individual deals to users, they would fetch between £3,525 and £4,400.

Eddison Flint, for Martin, said he had matured since the offence and now had family commitments that were proving a “very positive” influence in his life.