AN Oldswinford man spotted selling cannabis outside the Chequers pub in Stourbridge town centre has avoided being locked up.

Michael Smith, aged 20, was seen on CCTV making two transactions and, when police officers quickly arrived on the scene, he tossed a pot containing another five wraps of the controlled drug over a hedge.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge John Warner told Smith - described as being a "polite and intelligent" young man - the supply of drugs was always an extremely serious matter.

The judge warned him that if it had not been for his good character and his youth he would have gone straight down to the cells and off to begin a prison sentence.

Smith, of Corser Street, admitted two charges of supplying cannabis and another of possessing the drug with intent to supply.

He was given four months detention in a young offenders institution suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community and placed on supervision for a year .

Harpreet Sandhu, for Smith, said his client had been "tearful and fearful" about his appearance before the court.

He maintained it was street dealing over a very short period of time and it had been confined to just a few deals although there had been the potential for further sales before the police intervened.

Howard Searle, prosecuting, said Smith told police officers after his arrest he had sold two £10 bags of cannabis and he accepted he would have sold the other drugs.