A CANNABIS street dealer has narrowly avoided being sent to prison.

David De Bishoppe was "peer pressurised" into dealing cannabis in Malvern, magistrates heard on Thursday, (July 14).

The 25-year-old admitted being concerned in the supply of a controlled class B drug between July 7, 2020, and April 10, 2021. 

Worcester News: COURT: David De Bishoppe outside Worcester Magistrates CourtCOURT: David De Bishoppe outside Worcester Magistrates Court

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said cannabis, valued at around £360, was found at a Malvern property De Bishoppe was living at after a police search there on April 10 last year. 

The prosecutor said: "There are messages on a phone attached to De Bishoppe.

"He is a street dealer of cannabis, he plays a significant role."

The prosecutor added De Bishoppe had no relevant previous convictions. 

Jo Outhwaite, defending De Bishoppe, said: "He got himself involved through peer pressure. 

"The people he messaged are (cannabis users) known to him."

She added De Bishoppe, of Victoria Road, Malvern, had taken steps to rehabilitate himself, distancing himself from others involved, and was now working in McDonald's.

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After magistrates' deliberations, chairman of the bench, Michelle Edwards, told De Bishoppe they were giving him a 26-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. 

De Bishoppe, who attended court on crutches after falling off his push bike, was also ordered to pay costs of £185 and a victim surcharge of £128. 

  • Meanwhile a man entered no plea to a charge of dealing drugs including class A drugs ecstasy and cocaine in Malvern.

Joshua Jones, De Bishoppe's co-accused, entered no plea to four charges which were put to him by the court clerk at Worcester Magistrates Court.

The 23-year-old is accused of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class B, cannabis; concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, cocaine; concerned in the supply of a class A drug, ecstasy, and acquire/use/possessing criminal property.

Worcester News: COURT: Joshua Jones has appeared at Worcester Magistrates CourtCOURT: Joshua Jones has appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: West Mercia Police)

The offences are all alleged to have taken place between July 10, 2020 and April 10, 2021.

Mr Hambling, prosecuting, said together the offences would pass the custodial threshold so the matter should be sent to crown court, with Mark Turnbull, defending Jones, agreeing.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction in the case, the chairman telling Jones he will need to attend a pre-trial preparation hearing on August 11, at Worcester Crown Court.

The chairman give him the standing warning that if he failed to attend he would be committing an offence which he could be arrested for and sent to custody.

Jones was given conditional bail.