Judge tells Wednesbury drug dealer to stop 'sponging' off his mother

Stephen Pratt, of Westbury Road, Wednesbury, was in the dock having admitted possession of class B drugs with intent to supply.

But the unemployed 20-year-old was given the words of advice by Judge Robin Onions at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday after it emerged Pratt had been buying drugs with money given to him by his mother.

"You don't even have enough jive in you to go and sign on," he told the defendant.

The court was told how Pratt was seen with an unknown male on April 9 on Park Lane, Wednesbury.

Mr Mark Rees, prosecuting, said: "It was about 9.30pm and two un-uniformed officers saw two men acting suspiciously. Pratt was acting as the look-out while another man approached a car window.

"Both were searched and the defendant was found with 14 deal bags of cannabis worth £140 and £130 tucked into his right sock.

"The police later searched his house and in it they found electronic scales and two large bags of cannabis worth between £360 and £480.

"He told police it was for his own use but when asked about the £130 he said he was going to use it to go shopping in Walsall."

Mr Jas Mann, defending Pratt, said his client didn't claim benefits despite being unemployed.

He added: "He doesn't sign on. He relies on hand-outs from his mother to buy himself things. He's a young man who has his whole life ahead of him and hopefully he will get into employment.

"There is remorse and he has admitted he has done wrong. He has admitted he's been an embarrassment to his family."

Pratt was given an eight month sentence which was suspended for two years. He was told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid and is on electronic tag for the next four month from the hours of 7am and 7pm.

Judge Onions said: "At 20-years-of age you are old enough to stop sponging off your mother. It does seem to me your are living your life aimlessly."