A TEENAGER who was caught dealing drugs on the street was rewarded with things like a new pair of trainers or a fast-food meal.

Blackburn magistrates heard the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught with 13 snap bags containing cannabis and £80 in cash.

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He pleaded guilty at the hearing to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and was made subject to a referral order for nine months, But Imran Hussain, defending, said his client was not a sophisticated criminal, dealing to fund a lavish lifestyle.

“There are no fancy sports cars or anything like that,” said Mr Hussain.

“He is a young man who got in with the wrong crowd and was happy to settle for a new pair of trainers or a McDonald's as a reward for his efforts.

“He understands that drugs can devastate lives and that what he was doing was wrong.

“His mum was extremely sad and disheartened when the police came to search the house.”

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the boy was a passenger in a car stopped by police in Accrington.

He was holding onto a bag from which they recovered 13 snap bags each containing £10 worth of cannabis.

They also recovered a mobile phone which contained a number of texts relating to drug dealing.

“If he were an adult the guideline sentence for this offence would start at one year going up to three years,” said Miss Allan.