A LLANARTH drugs dealer was selling cannabis to his friends at cost price, a court has heard.

Curtis James Burt, 22, admitted possession of 33.6 grammes of cannabis with intent to supply when police found the cannabis while executing a search warrant at his home.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said the police executed the warrant at Burt’s home on 30 September and seized the cannabis and a phone.

Ms Tench said messages on the phone showed that Burt, of 14 Bron Llethi, had been contacted by people asking about buying drugs, with other messages showing that he had offered cannabis to people.

Burt, who appeared in court wearing a baseball cap featuring a cannabis leaf motif, told police officers that he had been buying cannabis in bulk and selling it on to his friends “at cost price”.

Ms Tench said figures seen in some of the messages suggested that Burt might have even been selling the drug at a loss.

She said it was accepted that Burt had only been supplying to his friends.

Burt, who represented himself in court, told magistrates that he had not been making money from the sale of the cannabis, but was selling it on to ensure he could buy in bulk to make the cannabis he used cheaper.

He said the price he would pay for a bulk amount varied depending on the strength of the cannabis.

Burt also asked for £465 seized during the police search to be returned to him after telling magistrates that he had saved the money from his benefits to pay for a bond and deposit so he can move house.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement. Burt was also fined £50 and will pay costs of £170.

The money seized by police will be returned to Burt.