A drug user put himself at risk of having a suspended prison sentence activated when he was caught in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Corbyn Farn was made subject of a ten-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years, at Durham Crown Court, in February last year.

It followed his admissions to charges of possessing a class B drug, a quantity of cannabis, with intent to supply to others and possessing criminal property, £6,500, knowing or suspecting it represented the whole or part of the proceeds of criminal conduct.

The court was told those offences arose after police attended the defendant’s home in Seaham over other matters, on January 8, last year.

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During a subsequent search of the premises, officers came upon an amount of cannabis under the stairs and in the kitchen.

They also found zip bags and scales, plus the £6,500 cash, and a machete.

The prosecution said those discoveries indicated Farn was dealing directly to users, with the expectation of making financial gain.

Having heard the defendant had spent six weeks in prison on remand, following his arrest, during which time he contracted Covid, Recorder Jamie Hill imposed the suspended sentence, along with an order to undergo 120 hours’ unpaid work and attend 20 probation-led rehabilitation activity days.

Proceeds of crime inquiries were then begun to see how much the defendant had benefitted from his crimes.

At a crime proceeds hearing at the court in September the amount available to confiscate from Farn was said to be £13,002 and he was given three months to pay.

But the 29-year-old defendant was back at court this week on a committal for sentence, having been found to be in possession of 1 and 1/8oz of cannabis in a further search of his home, on October 19, last year.

Although he was only charged with simple possession of the cannabis, the offence put him in breach of the two-year suspended sentence imposed in February last year.

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Martin Scarborough, for Farn, said he would have only been dealt with for simple class B drug possession at the magistrates’ court, but for the fact it put him in breach of the crown court suspended sentence.

Mr Scarborough said the Probation Service progress report indicated that the defendant had performed, “quite well” in relation to other aspects of the sentence, having completed the unpaid work and the rehabilitation activity days, but he conceded there was still some apparent misuse of drugs.

“He has issues, personally, and he’s concerned what might happen here.”

Judge Jo Kidd told Farn, of Princess Road, Seaham: “You were told, in no uncertain terms, in February last year that you were being given an opportunity to avoid going to prison, but it would seem you have continued to use drugs.

“It’s not sufficient for you to say you are addicted to drugs and you are going to continue to use them.

“If you are caught in possession of drugs again, you will be back before this court and you will be going to prison for at least ten months.

“Do you understand?”

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Farn responded that he did want to sort out his drug problems.

Judge Kidd told him: “You must take the opportunities probation are giving you.”

Imposing a further 100 hours’ unpaid work for the breach, with no separate penalty for the cannabis possession, she repeated: “If you are caught in possession of cannabis again you will be brought back and you will be going to prison.”