A CALDICOT man has been spared jail after admitting dealing drugs while under an order for a criminal damage offence.

Simon Lane, aged 38, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

The court heard how police raided Lane's home address in Oakley Way, Caldicot, where he was caught with two ounces of cannabis worth hundreds of pounds.

He later admitted to police during interview that he had a system of distributing the drug to customers but that he did not make a great deal of profit, prosecutor Julian Greenwood said.

At the time of his arrest, Lane was serving a community order from an incident in September last year.

The court heard he had thrown a trolley at the main shop window of a groceries store in Caldicot, which had become embedded in the smashed glass. CCTV footage captured the defendant running away from the scene. He told police he had a "mad moment" at the time of the incident, Mr Greenwood said.

In December, he was ordered to pay costs in excess of £1,700 and was told to serve 80 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard Lane was struggling financially in his attempts to repay the damages when he was persuaded to deal cannabis.

The court also heard the defendant's partner is dependant on cannabis and had recently been given a suspended sentence for drug offences.

Lane has learning difficulties and is "easily led", the court heard, but that he was also a "hard-working" volunteer.

Her Honourable Mrs Justice Sue Carr sentenced Lane to six months in prison but suspended the sentence for two years on the grounds he carries out a further 80 hours of unpaid work, undertakes 25 days of rehabilitation as well as a thinking skills programme.

"I'm prepared to give you a chance based on your desire to change your life," Mrs Justice Carr said.