A 25-YEAR-OLD man getting paid £100 a day to sell skunk cannabis from a lock-up garage was "well on his way to becoming a career criminal," the judge jailing him said.

Patrick Smith was imprisoned for 22 months after drugs squad officers caught him red-handed with 23 small bags of the Class B drug at an industrial unit in Walker Place, Windhill, Shipley, on November 27 last year.

The drugs were on a table at the premises that had been used to sell car parts.

Smith, of West Royd Avenue, Windhill, was arrested at the scene, telling the police: "It pays for my habit."

He was unemployed and spent £40 a day on the drug, prosecutor Anthony Kelbrick said.

Smith was immediately frank with the police, admitting he had been selling the drug for around two months and was being paid £100 a day.

The court yesterday heard he had a significant criminal record, being locked up for three years in 2013 for wounding with intent.

Smith pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis between September 27, 2015, and November 27.

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In mitigation, his barrister, Gerald Hendron, said he was realistic and knew he was going to prison.

He had similar previous convictions and committed the offence on licence.

Smith made full admissions at the police station and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He ran up a debt and was approached by others to sell cannabis to fund his own habit.

Mr Hendron said Smith had NVQ passes in English, maths and IT skills and hoped to make a fresh start on his release from jail.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Smith: "You are well on your way to becoming a career criminal. You will receive longer and longer prison sentences that will give the public a break from your activities."

Judge Rose said the courts frequently saw the damage that cannabis did to people.

"Cannabis is a serious problem in this and other cities. People do progress from it to hard drugs," he told Smith.

The judge made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the sum of £200.

He ruled that Smith's available assets were the £25 value of the drugs he was caught with.

Judge Rose also made an order that the 30 grams of cannabis seized from Smith be forfeit and destroyed.