A PONTERWYD man has been sent to crown court for sentencing after being found in possession of £5,000 worth of cannabis.

Martyn Christopher Bennett, 26, pleaded guilty at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court to possession of the cannabis with intent to supply.

Defence solicitor Janem Jones suggested to magistrates that their sentencing powers were adequate to deal with him as he did not play a “significant role”.

However, magistrates ruled that the case should go to crown court for sentencing and released Bennett on unconditional bail until a crown court hearing on 19 February.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said police had seen Bennett’s Audi near Llanrhystud shortly before 11.30pm on 21 December 2014 and had approached the car to speak to him.

However, from 25 metres away Mr Challinor said the officers could smell cannabis and found a bag wedged under the car containing cannabis.

Bennett, of 19 Maes yr Awel, was arrested by the officers and a large sum of money seized from his wallet while officers found a string of messages on his phone which suggested that he was involved in dealing drugs.

Mr Challinor said Bennett had given a statement to police saying that, while he accepted he had been in possession of the cannabis, he had been delivering it to a location in Aberaeron for a friend.

He admitted that he had known that the bag contained cannabis, but said he was just taking it to the location he had been asked to.

Bennett also told police that the money seized from him had been profits from a music event he had organised in Aberystwyth and denied being part of any drug supply.