A PAIR of drug dealers in Flintshire have been sentenced after they pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis to a group of their friends.

Appearing together at Mold Crown Court, James Peter Harrison and Jake Massey, both 27, had earlier pleaded guilty to offences of supplying and possession following a chain of events which began with an incident on May 7 last year.

Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, told the court Harrison, of Dee Road, Connah's Quay, had been the passenger in a car being driven by a friend when it was stopped by police in Pontblyddyn in the early hours of May 7.

Harrison was found in possession of a quantity of cannabis and after studying text messages on his mobile phone, officers suspected he was dealing drugs alongside Massey.

When police searched Massey's address at Church Road, Northop, on June 20 they found 13 grams of cannabis with an estimated street value of £130 and £610 in cash.

Massey's phone was seized and text messages revealed evidence that the pair were arranging to supply cannabis to four people.

Harrison pleaded guilty on February 20 at Flintshire Magistrates Court to a charge of possession and then admitted supplying cannabis between March 1 and May 8 at a pre-trial preparation under the understanding that he was occasionally supplying cannabis between those dates to a minimal number of friends on a non-profit basis.

Massey pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned with the supply of cannabis and possession.

Defending Harrison, who it was accepted played a lesser role, John Hedgecoe, said there was "a light at the end of the tunnel" for his client who was "getting older and doing his best to accept help from the probation services".

The court heard he had committed 28 previous offences with 16 convictions while Massey was described as "a man of good character".

Miles Wilson, defending, said Massey was "a heavy cannabis user whose friends would ask and he would supply".

Mr Wilson said the text messages revealed these friends were asking for "£5 worth" or "£15 worth" and on one occasion "a little chunk of hash" which were clearly very small amounts.

He added Massey was "a hard-working family man" who worked as a painter and decorator and had "glowing references".

He added Massey's partner was six months pregnant and the incident had happened at the "worst possible time" but he was now "making real efforts to reduce his cannabis intake".

Judge Rhys Rowlands handed Harrison an 18 month community order with a 30 day drug rehabilitation requirement.

Massey, who Judge Rowlands said played a more "significant role", received a six month sentence, suspended for 12 months, alongside a 15 day drug rehabilitation requirement. He was also ordered to pay costs of £500.