TWO Hereford cousins who dealt cannabis to friends have avoided an immediate jail sentence.

Jake Dixon, 18, and Nicholas Sheffield, 20, both appeared at Hereford Crown Court last week having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of possession of a controlled drug of class B with intent to supply.

Steven Bailey, prosecuting, told the court that at about 7.50pm on April 26 police stopped a Ford Focus on Greyfriars Avenue in Hereford.

The inside of the car – which was being driven by Sheffield with Dixon in the front passenger seat – smelled strongly of cannabis, the court heard.

Dixon initially attempted to hide cannabis down his trousers but when police said they suspected the duo’s involvement with drugs, a blue rucksack was produced which they admitted contained drugs.

Police discovered Dixon was in possession of cannabis worth £250 at street value while Sheffield was in possession of 78 grams – £950 at street value.

Both also had two mobile phones and the rucksack handed to police contained empty bags with traces of cannabis, as well as a set of scales.

When their home addresses were searched, nothing further was found at Sheffield’s but £205 cash was found at Dixon’s.

A total of £635 was confiscated from Dixon and £115 from Sheffield.

In interviews, both made admissions and said they dealt to different groups of friends.

Sheffield, of Marshall Close, Green Lanes, Hereford, said he had dealt to about 15 friends for several months while Dixon, of Kernal Road, Whitecross , Hereford, said he sold to five or six.

Defending, Alec Small, said the cousins were not part of a chain or large operation and worked for themselves.

They recognised from the outset they had been caught red-handed, he said.

“These are young men meeting the courts seriously for the first time,” he said.

“They realise the seriousness of the situation, are remorseful and have both taken steps to address the factors which led to this.”

Sentencing, Judge Cole said such dealing enables people to obtain drugs, which have an effect on society, lead to other crimes to fund habits and can act as a gateway to other serious drugs.

Both were sentenced to eight months in custody, suspended for 12 months. They will also complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

The forfeiture and destruction of the drugs was ordered and the cash seized was forfeited.

They will also both have to pay £321 prosecution costs and a £100 victim surcharge.