Cannabis addict from Kineton had been smoking since he was 11

And when the police raided Jamie Sowerby’s home they found 31 deals of skunk cannabis ready to be sold.

Sowerby, aged 24, of St Peter’s Road, Kineton, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to possessing cannabis with intent to supply it.

He was sentenced to ten months in prison suspended for 18 months, with 12 months supervision, ordered to take part in drug rehabilitation and pay £500 costs.

Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said that in April police raided Sowerby’s home and asked if he had any drugs, and he replied: “Yes, in my bedroom and in my jacket.”

Police found a container with 29 small bags, a set of scales and two phones, and a further two bags in his jacket, all bagged up for £10 deals.

And Mr Grieves-Smith said: “The phones showed he had been receiving texts from March 18 showing he was involved in the trade in drugs, albeit on a small basis.”

But when Sowerby was arrested and interviewed he said he smoked £10-£20 worth of cannabis a day.

He said he had bought an ounce of cannabis and had divided it up to be shared between him and a friend, but that he did not class himself as a dealer.

When interviewed again in June he maintained that account, but Mr Grieves-Smith said texts “showed it was an on-going trade in cannabis.”

Sean Logan, defending, said: “He began using cannabis at the age of 11, and it became a daily habit.

“This is an enterprise which has grown mainly out of trying to fund his own habit.

“He accepts it has gone beyond his close circle of friends and that other people would contact him.

“But he has stopped using cannabis. His partner says the relationship can only continue if he forgoes his drug use altogether.”

Mr Logan said Sowerby had lost his job at a Warwick hotel as a result of the offence.