A Watford man who was found with drugs estimated to be worth over £1,000 has avoided jail time.

Paul Richards had been in a car with another person, who has already been sentenced, when they were stopped by police in High Road, Leavesden, on July 4, 2019.

Upon searching the rental car police found a number of items in the back including cash and quantities of drugs.

This included 171.5 grams of cannabis, St Albans Crown Court heard.

The drugs found were estimated to be worth around £1,700.

However, the court heard that nothing was found following a search of Richards' address.

The other person in the car pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply them. He was given a two year jail sentence suspended for 18 months at an earlier hearing.

Richards, 47, of Starling Place, Boundary Way, appeared in court on Thursday after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply it.

In mitigation, the court was told that Richards had a difficult work life prior to the incident and split up with his partner, but that they are now back together and support each other.

The court also heard that Richards is in a “very different place now” and that there is no risk of him reoffending.

Sentencing Richards, Judge Warner said he appeared to be assisting the other person in the car and that the drugs in question were packed for street distribution.

He gave Richards a 12-month community order and ordered him to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days.

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