A MAN caught with cannabis in his car worth at least £16,000 in street value said it was for his personal use.

Sam Morton, 35, of Grove Terrace, on the outskirts of Bradford city centre, was given a suspended sentence for possession with the intent to supply a controlled drug of class B, at Leeds Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to the offence on December 14 last year.

The court heard that Morton maintained the drugs were all for his use during a police interview and at magistrates’ court, despite evidence showing even at heavy consumption that amount would last one person five years, by which time it would be rotten.

Jonathan Sharp, for the prosecution, said the cannabis found in Morton’s car was worth between £16,000 to £25,000 in street value, depending on the individual deals.

But its wholesale price would be “considerably less” and Mr Sharp said this was the intention for the drugs.

Morton was stopped by police when driving his car on April 24, 2021 after they were called about an unrelated matter.

Officers discovered a total of 2.511 kilogrammes of cannabis inside two containers within the vehicle.

Morton’s house was searched and that revealed the remnants of a cannabis farm in his attic, which had “clearly been emptied”, said Mr Sharp.

The court heard there was green vegetal matter trailing down the stairs of Morton’s house and it was inferred the cannabis found in his car had come from that farm.

His Honour Judge Simon Batiste said Morton was of previous good character before the offence, with no previous convictions, and was “somewhat reluctant” to give immediate jail time.

Harry Crowson, for the defence, agreed with this sentiment and made no further submissions.

Judge Batiste said substance abuse was “the root cause of this offending”.

He said: “I’ve read of an addiction to illicit substances but it’s clear from what I’ve read in the course of that report that you are now someone that has turned a corner.”

He added: “You are someone who has achieved a good education, good GCSE grades and you have been in full-time employment with the same employer for 15 years.”

Morton was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, focusing on thinking skills, offending and substance misuse, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Batiste also made a deprivation order for the drugs and paraphernalia seized during the police investigation.