A 26-YEAR-OLD Dursley man caught with almost a kilo of cannabis leaf which he planned to supply for profit escaped an immediate jail term at Gloucester Crown Court.

New dad Ryan Hill, of Olive Grove, Kingshill, only became involved in drugs because of someone he met at the accomodation where he was staying at the time of the offence, the court heard.

Hill pleaded guilty to possessing 881 grams of cannabis with intent to supply on December 29, 2008 and possessing cocaine.

The basis of his plea was that he did not have the cannabis for gain and intended only to pass it to a certain person.

But at an earlier 'trial of issue' Recorder David Bartlett rejected that stance and ruled that Hill did intend to profit from supply.

After hearing that Hill has an offer of work as a butcher and has become a father to a five-week-old baby son, Recorder Bartlett said he did not feel it necessary to impose an immediate jail term.

He sentenced Hill to 12 months' jail suspended for two years and ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work for the community.

"You have turned your life around, you have got a fiancee and a job and I hope you putt his behind you and never seen a criminal court again," said the Recorder.

Tim Hills, prosecuting, told the court the cannabis and cocaine were found when Hill's home in Dursley was raided by police.

About 450g of leaf cannabis was found in a bedroom, a similar quantity in the living room and a small quantity of cocaine, said Mr Hills. Also found was £200 in cash and a set of scales.

When arrested, Hill told police he had been in financial difficulties and had made a decision to purchase some cannabis to sell for profit.

Steve Young, defending, said the case now dated back more than a year and Hill's situation had changed significantly since then.

"At that time he was a user of cocaine," said Mr Young. "He is no longer a user.

"He is engaged to his partner who has a five-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. They have a new born baby, a son called Archie."

Passing sentence the Recorder said: "You were in the wrong premises at the wrong time and you got into a drug habit, using cocaine yourself and being prepared to supply cannabis to others for profit."

As well as the suspended jail term and unpaid work order the Recorder ordered Hill to pay prosecution costs of £550 at £50 a week.