A drug dealer accused of having cannabis worth £400 when police raided the Denbigh home which he shared with his partner, more than a year ago, was spared jail on Thursday.

Judge Rhys Rowlands at Mold crown court told 47-year-old Eric Payne: "The delay has to be reflected in the sentence I impose.”

He said police caught him red-handed.

An eight months suspended prison term was imposed with rehabilitation and a two-month 9pm-7am curfew.

Payne, now of Neville Court, Salford, who must pay a £140 surcharge, admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply.

Prosecuting barrister Jonathan Austin said the property at Denbigh was searched in December 2017 and Payne and others were present. The defendant accepted selling cannabis to locals.

Jo Maxwell, defending, said the offence involved a small number of friends to support his own habit. It wasn’t a case of cross-county supply.

Miss Maxwell said Payne lived in Manchester and cared for his elderly father.

Judge Rowlands said there were teenagers in the house but the amount of the drug was “fairly modest”.