Cannabis dealer caught with £1,000 of class B drug avoids custodial sentence

Benjamin Ducker, aged 19, of Glastonbury Close, Kettering, was found to be growing cannabis plants in the greenhouse of his property after police raided his home on July 2 last year.

Northampton Crown Court heard Ducker was arrested after police stopped a vehicle that was driving “erratically” in the early hours of the morning,

Adrian Harris, prosecuting, said police officers found 47 grams of the class B drug in the vehicle, as well as a cannabis grinder.

Officers then carried out a search of Ducker’s home address and of Ross Barnett, aged 22, the driver of the vehicle who also lived in Glastonbury Close, Kettering.

In Ducker’s property drugs paraphernalia including, scales, dealer bags and lists were found as well as four grams of ecstasy, the class A drug.

Three cannabis plants were also being cultivated in a greenhouse in the garden of the property. The estimated street value of the drugs found in Ducker’s house were between £1,000 and £1,500.

Ducker pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent, producing a class B drug and possession of a class A drug.

He was sentenced to eight months in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years. He must also complete 180 hours unpaid work and complete a drug rehabilitation order.

Barnett, who pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, will be sentenced next month.