A young drug dealer was allowed to walk free from court by a judge who told him: “Go and get the hiding you deserve from your dad.”
Edward Bartlett, 20, started peddling cannabis to his friends when he struggled to find a job after moving in with his girlfriend.
He was caught when police investigating a break-in at a neighbouring home noticed a pungent smell coming from her flat.
Officers searched the property and discovered £1,000-worth of cannabis and text messages from Bartlett’s customers on his phone.
Mobile phones, weighing scales and plastic bags were also recovered from the apartment in Abergavenny in May last year.
Bartlett, of Nantyglo, Gwent, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and offering to supply the class B drug.
He had been warned to expect a prison term when he was sentenced at Cardiff crown court earlier this week.
Bullet that killed Jill Dando was 'same as those linked to Liverpool crime gang'
But Judge Niclas Parry spared him immediate custody - and said he should instead face the music at home.
He told the red-faced dealer: “Go and get the hiding you deserve from your dad. I’m the least of your worries.
“You have driven your family to despair. You were bang at it. All the phones, the scales, the bags.”
Roger Griffiths, defending, said Bartlett was ashamed of his actions and is now looking for a job to make a fresh start.
Judge Parry handed Parry a 12-month community order and told him to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
He added: “This happened at a difficult period of your life. You are making something of your life.”
