TWO cannabis dealers from Selby have narrowly avoided jail but have been confined to their homes under four-month curfews.

When police stopped driver Daniel Roche, 20, for a motoring offence they noticed that the car smelt of cannabis and investigated him and his passenger Darren James White, also 20.

Officers found £125 worth of cannabis belonging to Roche in the car and £140 of the drug at White’s home.

David Garnett, prosecuting at York Crown Court, said White later told police he allowed others to smoke cannabis in his home. They also found text messages about drug dealing on Roche’s phone.

Recorder Timothy Hirst said the public tended to think cannabis was not a serious drug.

“It has been recognized as serious because its usage can cause, especially if used heavily, serious psychiatric illness and after effects, and it is that sort of thing that makes professional supply of cannabis sufficiently serious to justify a custodial sentence.”

He gave each man a prison sentence, but suspended them on conditions.

Barristers for both men said they were at the very bottom of the supply chain and were not working together.

Roche and White each admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply it to others. Roche, of Croftway, Selby, also pleaded guilty to possessing a tablet of a less serious drug. He was given a 46-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months on condition that he does 18 months’ supervision and 100 hours’ unpaid work and an 11-hour curfew on Saturdays and Sundays for four months. The court heard he works night shifts on Mondays to Fridays.

At an earlier hearing, magistrates fined and banned Roche from driving for drink-driving on the occasion when police stopped the pair.

For Roche, Anthony Moore said he had cut down on his cannabis usage since his arrest.

White, of Kent Road, Selby, also admitted permitting others to use his house for drug purposes. He was given a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months on condition he does 18 months’ supervision, a nightly 11-hour curfew for four months and 60 hours’ unpaid work.

For him, Matthew Harding said White was out of work and dealt to friends and associates at the bottom of the drug supply chain.