A 24-YEAR-old Bewdley man twice caught dealing drugs to feed his own habit has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Ben Breakwell, of Severn Way, who admitted a total of seven drug offences, was also ordered to do 125 hours of unpaid work in the community and to attend 40 days of rehabilitation activity when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, August 26.

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC, who said Breakwell was making good progress to kick his drug habit, gave him two years in jail, suspended for two years.

He said: “It’s quite clear that this young man’s life has been, for some time, a complete mess.

“He has a substantial drug habit which he feeds by selling drugs – it’s not for financial gain to fund a lavish lifestyle.”

Breakwell admitted five drug offences, including possession and offering to supply, last November and two more charges dating from July 2015.

Scott Coughtrie, prosecuting, said police raided Breakwell’s former home in High Street, Bewdley, and found cannabis with a street value of £100 and mephedrone – known as M-Cat – worth up to £310.

He had mobile phones which showed drug-dealing activity but told police the M-Cat was for self-medication as he was bipolar.

Mr Coughtrie added that, on November 28, police searched his then home in Severnside South, Bewdley, where they found drugs including cannabis and ecstasy – worth up to £1,860 – as well as £380 cash.

His phones contained evidence of drug-dealing.

Graham Russell, defending, said Breakwell, who had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, was “mentally ill”.

He had not been going on to the street with stocks of drugs to supply but had sold to friends in order to fund his own habit.