A drug dealer who had cocaine stashed in his wine rack has walked free from court after his boss told a judge: “He’s fantastic”.

Daniel McMahon, 31, was caught with 16.6 grams of cocaine during a police raid on his home in Rochdale last year.

But Judge John Potter said he could spare McMahon from immediate custody after hearing a glowing reference from his boss.

“Mr McMahon, you are very lucky,” Judge Potter said.

“Some people might perceive this to be a lenient and merciful sentence.

“If you do not grasp the opportunity you have been given with both hands you will be in serious trouble.”

Police raided the home McMahon shares with his partner and teenage stepson during the early hours of January 20, 2019.

McMahon told police “it’s in the kitchen”.

There officers found a plastic bag stuffed in a wine rack, which contained 16.6 grams of cocaine with a purity of 77 per cent.

They also discovered empty snap bags, mobile phones and a set of scales.

McMahon was arrested and gave a no comment interview to police, who worked out that the drugs stash had a street value of £1,328.

McMahon, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

He was told to expect a custodial sentence because the offence was so serious.

However Judge Potter decided to suspend two-year jail term for two years and order him to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Friend, defending McMahon, described his offending as “a most disappointing fall from grace” by a “committed and hard working” man who lives an otherwise “decent” life with his partner and 14-year-old stepson.

“He acknowledges is own foolishness,” Mr Friend told Minshull Street Crown Court.

The barrister described his client as a “low level street dealer” who is “under no illusion of the precarious position he has placed himself in”.

“His pleas are a genuine expression of remorse and contrition,” he said.

After his arrest, McMahon went to his boss and told him not to spend any more money training him as there would be “no point”, Mr Friend said.

Despite this his employer, Matthew Haythorn, kept him on and was in court on Thursday (January 2) to support McMahon.

He even took to the witness box to swear an oath and tell the judge he would be “lost” without McMahon’s help at work.

He explained how McMahon had been “down on his luck” when he came to work for him in November 2018 as a labourer at his yard.

“He’s fantastic,” he said.

“He’s hard working, conscientious and a very bright lad.

“He’s made my life incredibly easy over the last six months because he’s prospered in the role. He’s learnt the job and brought his own twist to it and improved things.”

Mr Haythorn said McMahon works from 6am until 4pm each weekday and comes into work on Saturday mornings.

“I’m aware he has been foolish and that he’s incredibly ashamed and embarrassed,” Mr Haythorn said.

He added: “It would be a devastating blow if I lost him. He has made my life so much easier. I can focus on the other side of the business.”

Judge Potter said McMahon had put himself and his family at risk by selling drugs and “taking the easy way out”.

“You put in jeopardy the future of your stepson who, I understand, is approaching his GCSEs,” he said.

“You should take time to reflect on the thought processes which led you to put him at risk.”

Judge Potter said that despite this, he could suspend McMahon’s two year jail sentence because of the “significant mitigation”.

“It’s too often that employers will dash of a reference for an employee but it’s not often they will come to court to support and speak up for the employee and it speaks volumes to me that that is the case here. Clearly you have impressed Mr Haythorn.”

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