A man who offered to supply an under cover police officer with cocaine and ecstasy has been given the chance to get off drugs.
Mark Scott, from Hemel Hempstead, is to go on a drug rehabilitation programme after being caught in a Herts Police operation code-named ‘Cusp’.
Prosecutor David Chrimes told St Albans Crown Court on Friday that Scott, 26, had supplied amphetamine and cannabis to an officer called “Jav” over a three-week period between October 4 and 25 last year.
But he said the offer to provide the Class A drugs was all ‘hot air and bravado’ as there was no evidence that he had access to them.
The deals were all secretly recorded and when questioned by the police Scott admitted what he was doing, saying he was in debt.
Scott, of Midland Road, pleaded guilty to three charges of offering to supply Class A drugs and six of supplying amphetamine and one of supplying cannabis.
Defence barrister Richard Storey said that in the past Scott had committed petty crime to feed his drug addiction, but he said he had now taken steps to try to deal with it.
He said he receives £140 in fortnightly benefits and his partner is expecting a child.
Judge John Plumstead told him: “You deserve to go to prison, but it would do you little good.”
He gave him a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years with an 18-month supervision and drug rehabilitation requirement.
Scott will be tested for drugs twice a week and his case will be reviewed by the judge in a month.
Judge Plumstead added: “If you let me down, you will be on your way to going to prison.”