A SQUATTER caught with ecstasy worth more than £2,000 in his rucksack as well as a dealers list, cash and scales has been allowed to walk free.
George Pawsey, 24, was searched by police after they stopped a car in Bristol on Christmas Eve last year.
In his rucksack they found 82g of MDMA, known as ecstasy, seven wraps, broken tablets, a dealers list, scales and £6,473 in cash.
But Pawsey, of City Road, St Paul's, was sentenced on the basis that he had bought the drugs for personal use and had only sold amounts to friends to fund his addiction.
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Pawsey was at Bristol Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, possession of a class B drug and possession of criminal property – the cash found in his bag.
James Tucker, prosecuting, said the Crown believed Pawsey was a commercial dealer buying and selling drugs for profit.
"He told police in interview that he was unemployed and that the only legitimate source of income was gambling," Mr Tucker said.
He told the court Pawsey submitted a plea saying he was homeless at the time of the offence and living in a squat so carried all his belongings with him. He said he was staying somewhere in Clifton.
Mr Tucker added that when asked if there had been any pressure from anyone he replied "there will be" again establishing he was part of a drugs chain the Crown said.
The court heard that Pawsey claimed he had used £1,250 of his savings to buy MDMA because it was cheaper to buy in bulk.
He said the MDMA was supposed to last him from when he bought it until his birthday on February 25.
Mr Tucker said Pawsey had no previous convictions.
Caroline Spedding, defending, presented references describing him as a young man who had lost his way but was now back on track.
She said Pawsey had a large amount of money on him because a friend had asked him to buy a large amount of drugs on his behalf.
"He has come a long way in his life since Christmas last year," she said.
"This has had a considerable effect on him. He has got himself a flat and obtained funding from the Prince's Trust to pursue education.
"He is using his skills to build a positive lifestyle and stay away from the lifestyle where he was in squats.
"He has done a business course and hopes to be self-employed as a web page designer."
Judge Michael Harington said he accepted the basis put forward and Pawsey was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years, will be supervised for 12 months and must do 200 hours unpaid work.
