AN Indian restaurant owner has been warned to quit his cannabis habit or risk his business.

Chabirool Ayab, 30, escaped with a suspended prison sentence when he was caught dealing in the drug in 2015, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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And the father-of-two put his restaurant and employees in jeopardy when he was spotted smoking the narcotic by two police officers while parked up in Burnley, the court heard.

Prosecutor Lisa Worsley said Ayab was found with a small bag of cannabis and was asked by the officers whether there were any other drugs in the car.

He denied this but two larger bags of the drug, with a street value of around £180 each, were discovered and he was arrested.

Ayab, of Clive Street, Burnley, was originally charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply cannabis.

But prosecutors accepted guilty pleas to two possession offences and the supply charge was dropped.

The defendant also admitted being in breach of a suspended prison sentence for cannabis dealing.

Simon Gurney, defending, said his client was ordinarily a hard-working family man who had been making efforts to rid himself of his cannabis habit.

He told the court Ayab would have to close his restaurant temporarily if he was imprisoned, putting his employees out of work.

And his wife, currently studying for a law degree, would have to quit university because of family commitments, Mr Gurney said.

Judge Jonathan Gibson ordered Ayab to complete 100 hours community service and fined him £50 with £340 court costs.

The judge warned him, with his convictions, that he would be facing jail if he offended again.

Judge Gibson said: “As far as I am concerned your cannabis use has to stop.

“You need to do the right thing by your family in future.”

The court had heard that Ayab was sitting in a car in the Folds Street area of Burnley at around 2.20am with two other men when he was arrested by police officers.

The two officers, who, the court was told, were acting on a tip-off, approached the vehicle and later reported that they could detect a strong smell of cannabis inside, leading them to make further enquiries.