A CANNABIS dealer caught red-handed with bags of ‘skunk,’ scales and almost £300 in cash has been given a suspended prison sentence because of the long delay in bringing the case to its conclusion.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Zeeshan Mohammed that he would have gone immediately to jail had the offence not been committed well over two years ago.

Mohammed, 26, of Barkerend Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possession of the Class B drug with intent to supply it on April 21, 2020.

Prosecutor Louise Pryke told Bradford Crown Court on Thursday that the police went to an address in Bradford after being alerted that three people were carrying boxes of drugs out of it. Mohammed was there with bags of cannabis, scales and cash.

Mrs Pryke said the total value of the skunk and ordinary cannabis amounted to £1,192.

Mohammed was arrested and made no comment when questioned.

His barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he had not committed any drugs offences in the more than two years since.

Mohammed was unemployed and fit enough to do unpaid work for the community.

Judge Rose sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.