A JOINER from Blackburn has been jailed for two years after a police officer on patrol smelled cannabis and searched his home.

Graham Stead, 49, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis resin, skunk and the class B cannabis substitute Spice.

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Preston Crown Court heard the officer was walking past Stead’s home in Bentley Street, Blackburn, when he noticed a strong smell of cannabis, on April 16, 2015.

He knocked on the door and was let in by Stead, who allowed him to search the house.

The smell was so strong the officer thought he may uncover a cannabis farm.

He discovered 26.9g of cannabis resin, 113g of skunk and 141g of Spice with a combined street value of around £2,350.

There were also tick lists and mobile phone messages which suggested Stead was involved in drug dealing.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs, but denied any involvement with £9,000 of heroin which was found buried in the garden.

The court heard Stead, a qualified joiner who has lost his home since his arrest, has been a drug user since he was 13.

Judge Pamela Badley, sentencing, said: “The reality is that from an early age you have been addicted to drugs, particularly cannabis, which has undermined your life in the most distressing way possible.

“You have thrown away opportunities to live a decent life because you wanted to mix with people who supply cannabis to you and in turn you are supplying cannabis, skunk and Spice to other people.

“You look older than your years. The years of taking cannabis have had a huge effect on you.

“You have tried to hold down a job but you have lost that job.

“It may be that you gain something from this next period in custody.”

Judge Badley handed Stead, now of no fixed address, 24 months on each count to run concurrently.