A MAN who committed perjury during a Worcester Crown Court trial has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Dylan Morgan appeared as a defence witness in the case of an Evesham drug dealer.

Morgan told the jury class A drugs belonged to him and that Dean Smith was only a courier, said Brett Stevenson, prosecuting.

After being arrested in September this year, he confessed he had lied and expected Smith to give him drugs in return.

He also claimed he was intimidated into giving false evidence by threats.

Morgan, aged 21, of Woodlands, Evesham, pleaded guilty to perjury.

Judge John Cavell said prison was the normal sentence for such a serious offence

But he said Morgan had begun to respond well to a drug treatment and testing order imposed four months ago for allowing his premises to be used for drugs.

The judge deferred sentence until May 14 next year.

He promised Morgan that if he continued to make progress with the drug testing order and avoid further offences, he would be given a non-custodial sentence at the next hearing.

The judge said it had been ''painfully obvious'' at the trial last March that Morgan was an unimpressive witness.

Smith was sentenced at the end of the trial to five years for drug dealing and possession.