A plasterer who lost his way and dealt drugs has cleaned up his life and aspires to join the Army, a court heard.
Brynley McCarthy was arrested for a matter in November 2019, Bristol Crown Court was told.
When police searched his address they found quantities of Class A drug cocaine and Class B drug cannabis.
And, after being taken into custody, he spat on a police custody sergeant.
McCarthy, 21, of Newton Road in Cadbury Heath, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply.
He also admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
Judge Martin Picton imposed a 16 months prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He told McCarthy: "This is a case about cannabis as opposed to Class A.
"Some cannabis could have been sold and you've done so in the past, not to the extent you sold cannabis."
The judge ordered McCarthy to undergo up to 10 days' rehabilitation and carry out 150 hours' unpaid work.
An available £1,605 was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act and drugs recovered were destroyed.
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said when McCarthy was arrested for an unrelated matter a search of his address revealed 2.5g of 58 per cent pure cocaine in deals, as well as a quantity of cannabis.
Analysis of his phones revealed evidence of mostly cannabis dealing as well as some cocaine supply, the court was told.
Mr Treharne said after being taken into custody McCarthy injured himself before spitting on a police custody sergeant's forearm and leg.
The officer described what happened as "repulsive", the court heard, adding that he had been concerned about McCarthy's welfare and felt he should not be subjected to such an assault.
Alistair Haggerty, defending, said: "He was a young man at the time.
"He was immature and was negatively influenced by a peer group.
"He was a heavy drug user, he had been working as a plasterer and he had no direction.
"Since then he aspires to be a member of the armed forces.
"He is a bright, very capable, personable young man.
"He is genuinely remorseful, in particular with the assault - he is disgusted with the assault.
"It was wholly out of character for him, he was in a very different place at the time."
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