A DRUG dealer who welcomed police into his home has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Stuart Singleton, of Station View, Harrogate, appeared before York Crown Court after he admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis before magistrates.

The court heard police executed a drugs warrant at Singleton’s home in September last year, and traced him to a nearby supermarket where he was working at the time.

York Press:

The 36-year-old returned to his home with officers, and directed them to two areas of the house where about 190g of cannabis was stored - some already sorted into small plastic bags - along with a mobile phone and £345 in cash. Singleton originally said he was looking after the drugs for friends and had not made profit from them, but the prosecution said it was clear from texts on his phone that he was dealing.

Ashley Metcalfe, for 36-year-old Singleton, said her client had a history of Class A and B drug possession, along with a number of previous burglary and shop theft convictions.Singleton, she said, had been clean from heroin for five years, and clean of all drugs for three years, and he and his partner of seven years, along with their children, had taken on a lifelong lease at their home.Singleton was sentenced to eight months in prison, but the judge suspended his sentence for two years, He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and the drugs were confiscated and destruction order was put in place for the drugs and paraphernalia.