A cannabis dealer in Ellesmere Port has received an unusual sentence of a 12-month conditional discharge.

Kyle Williams, 24, appearing at Chester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Stocken in Liverpool, had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class B drug in September last year.

The court heard on Wednesday, July 17 that Williams was already serving a 45-month prison sentence for being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, with the cannabis having been found by police at the same time as finding cocaine.

However, while Williams was charged for the class A drugs offence, the cannabis offence was put under investigation while detectives pursued the possibility someone else may have been involved.

Ultimately, that investigation did not lead to anyone else being convicted.

The judge, Recorder Anthony O'Donohoe, said Williams had "suffered the disadvantage" of not being sentenced for both offences at the same time in November 2022.

Prosecuting, Jemma Gordon said officers had attended Williams' address at the time in John Nicholas Crescent, Ellesmere Port, in October 2022, where drugs paraphernalia including scales and a mobile phone were found.

There were also three carrier bags containing cannabis, split into smaller bags and one-ounce deals, collectively with a street value of between £4,830 and £7,450. The bags had Williams' fingerprints on them.

In police interview, Williams said all the cannabis was his and gave no comment answers to further questions.

He had three previous convictions for five offences, including a three-year sentence in February 2021 for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Defending, Ryan Rothwell said Williams had been at a disadvantage as he had been eligible for release in March on a tag, but that had been delayed because of this outstanding matter.

The judge said he would take an "exceptional course" and "step outside the guidelines" for sentencing, given the context of the case, and hand Williams a 12-month conditional discharge, because it was "in the interest of justice to do so".

The cannabis was to be forfeited and destroyed.