A DAD-TO-BE gave up smoking cannabis but ended up dealing the drug in order to pay off the debts he had amassed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Joseph Keith Whittaker’s attempt to sort his life out came unstuck when police stopped him in his car and then found five £20 deals and a quantity of cash.

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And analysis of his mobile phone showed he had been dealing the drug for six months.

Whittaker, 21, of Rothwell Avenue, Accrington, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

He was made subject to a one month curfew between 7pm and 7am and ordered to pay £145 costs.

Deborah Morgan, defending, said Whittaker had injured his back as a teenager and started using cannabis to help ease the pain.

She said: “He ran up debts and his dealer became more and more aggressive and threatening.

“When his girlfriend became pregnant he decided that things had to change and he stopped smoking cannabis.

“He still had the debt and decided to deal for six months to clear it so he and his family could make a fresh start.”