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A 74-year-old shopkeeper who dealt drugs from a convenience store in Cambridge has avoided jail.

Police visited Progressive General Stores on Scotland Road, run by Victor Ramsey, on October 12 last year, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of Ashfield Road in Cambridge, had concealed £5 and £10 'deal bags' of cannabis in locations around the shop, with drugs hidden in two Nivea skincare pots, a fish food container, and velcro-ed underneath the shop counter.

Ramsey previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class B drugs at Cambridge Crown Court.

The shop has now closed and a different business is operating from the premise.

He was sentenced at the same court on Friday (April 21), where he was handed a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Ramsey was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

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James Earle, prosecuting, said: "The overall value of the cannabis was £520.

"Police searched the shop and hidden in a Nivea pot was three £10 deal bags.

"In the shop's back room was a trolley filled with two bags, containing another 46 deal bags of cannabis.

"On the right hand side of the till was another Nivea pot with four £5 bags of cannabis, and there were more bags velcro-ed to the bottom of the counter."

Ramsey was therefore arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs from the shop.

'Ramsey's mistress took drugs and relied on him to provide them'

In police interview, he said he ran the shop from when it opened at 5.30pm to when it closed at 11pm.

He said he dealt the cannabis to friends and those he knew as a way to make money, because the store had been taking £100 less than it normally did, the court was told.

Ramsey said he didn't take the drugs himself, but he had a girlfriend who did.

He admitted using the shop as cover for his drug dealing.

Roderick James, mitigating, said: "Whilst my client does have previous convictions he has only ever been dealt with by means of a fine, and has done nothing of that sort for more than 10 years now.

"He broke down in police interview and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"My client's long term partner is immobile and relies on him to get around.

"As a result of this, he developed a relationship with another woman who could give him intimacy.

"Unfortunately she took cannabis and looked to him to provide that."

Ramsey has lost the shop and his lease has been terminated

Mr James said Ramsey had lost the shop and the lease had been terminated as a result of his arrest.

He said Ramsey 'deeply regrets' getting himself in this situation and had only dealt cannabis to friends and people he knew - not 'simply anyone off the street'.

Sentencing Ramsey, Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said: "We have not yet reached the stage in this country, unlike in the USA, where it's possible to convey cannabis over the counter - and that's what you were doing.

"The fact you were doing this through your shop means you took a leading role in dealing.

"However, I take on board the circumstances you have been placed with and that you provide almost sole care for the lady you live with."