A DRUG dealer who was caught with £14,000 of cannabis in his car has been jailed for 33 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Bryon McDowell, of Queen Street, Darwen, initially caught the attention of police on April 1 when the Ford Focus he was driving in Blackburn Road, Padiham, had a defective rear light.

Prosecuting, Peter Barr said when officers approached the car they saw McDowell sat in the drivers seat and his co-defendant Shane Whalley sat in the passengers seat.

The court heard officers noted a strong smell of cannabis in the vehicle and when asked about it one of the defendants said he had smoked a joint.

Mr Barr said officers then noticed a large black bin bag behind the driver’s seat.

He said: “When an officer looked inside it they found what they described as cannabis bud. He asked Mr McDowell if it was cannabis and he said ‘yes’.”

Both men were arrested and the court heard McDowell asked officers why Whalley was being taken into custody because the cannabis was his.

When interviewed McDowell supplied a prepared statement which said the cannabis was his and for personal use, the court was told.

Whalley also supplied a prepared statement in which he said the cannabis belonged to McDowell and he had no intention of selling it.

The prosecution said the bin bag contained 987 grammes of “skunk” cannabis with a street value if sold in individual deals of £14,100.

Mr Barr said following their arrest both men’s mobile phones were seized and searched.

He said McDowell’s phone contained a number of text messages linked to drunk dealing.

The court was told how on read: “Tell your mate I have got 67 ounces of AK weed. It’s mint. I want £175 an ounce for it.”

Both men pleaded guilty to of possession pleaded guilty to possessing a class B drug with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug.

The court heard they entered pleas on the basis they had not grown the cannabis, had been asked to find others to buy it and had made very little money from it.

Defending Richard Taylor said: “Both men are in their 30s. Both are usually hard-working.

“They have no previous convictions for drugs offences. Both were involved for a short time and got very little out of it.”

Judge Beverley Lunt told McDowell he had played a more significant role in the operation than Whalley.

McDowell was jailed for 32 months and Whalley, of Ribble Drive in Wigan, was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years.