A MAN who stored £45,000 worth of cannabis in the boot of his girlfriend’s car has walked free from court.

Thomas Young lent his girlfriend’s car to a drug dealer and allowed them to store 3.2kg of cannabis in the boot for a deal in Oswaldtwistle.

But Young, of Oswaldtwistle, was rumbled at around 9.30pm on January 18 last year, when a police officer travelling behind the Peugeot noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the officer then followed the vehicle which resulted in a chase.

The driver of the Peugeot then drove through a fence into an ‘inaccessible area’, causing damage to the front of the vehicle.

Young, 35, then managed to escape from the car, only to be followed on foot by officers who eventually caught up with him and arrested him.

Prosecutor Andrew Brown said: “Seven bags of herbal cannabis were found in bushes.

“There was 3.211kg of cannabis which if sold in a deal, would have a street value of £45,000.”

Defending Young, Richard Prew, said the possibility of losing contact with his kids and a prison sentence had put the ‘fear of god’ in him.

He said: “The last 16/17 months have been a solitary experience for him.

“He’s been on bail since January last year and has co-operated fully with the probation service. He has also been drug-free for six months.

“The possibility of losing contact with his kids and having a prison sentence has put the fear of god in him, so I would ask for a suspended sentence in this case.”

Judge Simon Medland said Young, The Green, Duncan Square, Union Road, had a ‘longstanding history of personal cannabis use’, with this incident being the exception.

He said: “Cannabis is seen by some as not harmful, but from your own experience, you know that that is untrue.

“Even low grade herbal cannabis is a deeply harmful substance. Time and time again I’ve seen minds wrecked – it’s a serious drug.

“But to your very considerable credit, you’ve stopped taking cannabis.

Young was given a 10-month jail sentence suspended for two years for possession of a class B drug with intent to supply. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work.