A cocaine dealer has been given a suspended sentence after keeping himself out trouble for more than a year and trying to kick his own habit.

Noah Burnip was spotted acting suspiciously in his Mercedes car when three men approached his vehicle and appeared to carry out a deal.

Teesside Crown Court heard how two of the three men were later arrested in a Darlington pub and were found to be carrying a small amount of the Class A drug.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said about an hour later Burnip was seen driving around the town and was pulled over by police.

She said: “The defendant was in the driver’s seat and upon the officers approaching he appeared to be concealing an item in his underwear. Prior to being searched he admitted hiding a bit of coke which he and his girlfriend intended to share.”

Read more: Darlington man put partner's head down loo after his own affair was exposed

The court heard how he was arrested and his mobile phone seized before being examined by officers who discovered a number of messages concerning the supply of cocaine.

Miss Lamballe added: “A search of his home the following morning revealed a small amount of cannabis and a ‘designer drug’ which gives similar effects as amphetamine, while a black-Taser torch was also recovered.”

The 23-year-old admitted selling the cocaine during his police interview and expressed shock that the weapon could be described as a firearm as it wasn’t capable of ‘killing a cat’.

Burnip, of Clifton Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, possession of cannabis, possession of a Class B drug, and possession of a prohibited weapon, following his arrest on April 17 last year.

Emma Williams, in mitigation, said the father-of-one had stayed out trouble since his arrest and was now working full-time.

She added that he had been completely drug free for more than a month after working hard to reduce his own habit.

Recorder Thomas Moran passed a 16-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.

“These offences took place sometime ago when CCTV showed you engaged in an apparent drugs transaction while you were sitting in your car,” he said.

He accepted that the defendant had shown remorse and ‘clearly didn’t realise the seriousness of the stun-gun’ he had.

Burnip was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054