A man caught with £42,000 worth of cocaine and a cannabis farm in his garage has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Matthew Norris, 29, was found with the drugs at the home he rents from his mother at Hebden Road, Lower Westwood, near Bradford on Avon, when police raided it on October 13 last year. They found 80 cannabis plants and the cocaine.

But after Norris said he had run up £2,500 debt with a dealer and was paying it off by storing his stock, Recorder Stephen Climie imposed a suspended sentence at Swindon Crown Court.

When questioned by police Norris said said he had developed a cocaine habit, running up a four-figure debt to his dealer and was told the consequences of not paying would “be painful” and was offered a way out by storing the drugs.

Norris pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, simple possession, and being concerned in the production of cannabis.

The recorder imposed an 18 month jail term suspended for two years, a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am and ordered Norris to pay £1,200 costs and £100 surcharge.