A LOW-level street drug dealer who was caught snorting cocaine in an Andover pub toilet has escaped a prison sentence.

Samuel Lucas Day admitted to possession with intent to supply cocaine worth a street value of around £100 when he appeared in Winchester Crown Court last week.

The court heard how the 25-year-old was caught snorting the class A drug in the toilets of The Redbridge pub in February.

James Kellam, prosecuting, said: “Your honour the facts are straight forward. On February 19 he and another man were seen in Andover on their way into The Redbridge public house.

“A police officer who knew the man with the defendant to be involved in drug use signalled as much to the door staff at the public house in question who followed the pair as they went straight to the toilet.

“They caught the defendant with a bag of powder and in the process of putting it up his nose.”

Day, of Turin Court, was detained and searched by police when he was found to be in possession of nine wraps of cocaine and one of ketamine worth an approximate street value of £100.

Describing how he was further searched when he was taken to the police station, Mr Kellam continued: “There were messages on his mobile suggesting two things: one is that people from time to time contacted him offering to sell drugs; the other is that people contacted him from time to time offering to buy drugs.”

More than £100 in cash was also found in his possession and he pleaded guilty to possession of the ketamine for his own personal use.

Mr Kellam further told the court that Day has three previous convictions, his last being in 2012 for possession with intent to supply drugs.

Damian Hayes, defending, described how Day had turned to drugs during a rough patch in his life but has since found a stable job and is building a life with his girlfriend.

He said: “He tells me that this had been going on for a few weeks at the time of his apprehension. It is accepted that he has a drugs history.

“He has clearly been through a bad patch, he was out of work, his family had moved to Italy leaving him rather isolated. Left on his own he got in with the wrong crowd.”

Mr Hayes also told the court that Day was only involved in dealing cocaine to fund his own habit, selling on any surplus that he had bought for himself.

Sentencing Day for “low-level street dealing”, Recorder Michael Bowes said: “On February 19 this year you were found to be in possession of 10 £10 wraps and police found messages showing you were involved in being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at a low level. Nevertheless it is a serious offence.

“This is not the first time you have been in trouble for drugs.”

Finding his employment status and relationship in his favour to pass a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, Recorder Bowes continued: “It is for those reasons I am going to suspend what would otherwise be a sentence of imprisonment.

“This is your opportunity to carry on and keep going with your work.”

Recorder Bowes also passed a community order with a rehabilitation requirement and ordered Day to complete 100 hours of work in the community along with forfeiture of the drugs and money found in his possession.