A DRUG dealer who was caught with more than £1,500 of cannabis has been jailed.

Callum Pope, from Runcorn, was handed two years behind bars at Chester Crown Court on Monday, July 27.

The 20-year-old was earlier found guilty of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Pope, of Lime Grove, was caught attempting to hide a large tin in the back garden of a property on Pool Lane in Runcorn Old Town by police at around 2pm on Thursday, June 11, after officers attended the address over unrelated matters.

A large amount of cannabis with an estimated street value of £1,620, snap bags and cash were found inside this tin.

After being arrested, Pope admitted that the cannabis was his under interview but claimed that it was for person use.

But scales containing traces of cannabis and a mobile phone containing text messages linked to drug dealing were found during a subsequent search of the house.

Police constable Jamie Macdonald, who led the investigation, said: “The vast majority of the cannabis that we seized from the address had been split down into individual £10 and £20 street deal sizes – we also seized a package that contained around 25g of loose cannabis and a large number of unused snap bags.

“With the amount of cannabis we found at the address – as well as the manner in which it had been packaged and the presence of digital scales and unused snap bags – it was clear that the drugs were being stored there for onward supply.

“We are delighted to have removed this significant quantity of cannabis from our streets as we are fully aware of the negative impact illegal drug use and supply can have on communities – we are equally pleased that Callum Pope has been convicted of dealing the class B drug and is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.

“I hope that the 20-year-old spends his time in custody rethinking the choices he has made and changes his ways.

“Although this case has now concluded, our battle against those who supply illegal drugs continues.

“I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch.

“You will be listened to and we will investigate the matter.”

Cheshire police and crime commissioner David Keane has also welcomed the sentence passed.

He added: “This is another example of proactive police work leading to a drug dealer and a significant amount of illegal drugs being taken off our streets.

“Illegal drugs and those who supply them blight our communities, causing untold damage to both those that use them and the wider society who suffer from the resulting crime.

“As police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, I know that officers work tirelessly in their fight against drug dealing and I am delighted to hear of this latest successful result.”