A DRUG dealer from Ellesmere Port who possessed cannabis products valued at £50,000 has been jailed.

Robert Wright, 40, of Wolverham Road, had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the class B drug.

Appearing before Recorder Michael Blakey at Chester Crown Court today (Friday), Wright was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment.

Prosecuting, Oliver King told the court police officers had a search warrant and forced entry into Wright's home on May 12, 2017, where they found cannabis paraphernalia in the kitchen, toilet, downstairs cloakroom and living room.

All those items were seized and sent for forensic analysis, where it was found they had the defendant's fingerprints on them.

Among the items were a mobile phone which had text messages related to drug dealing, a cannabis plant which a police expert valued at up to £32k and 181g of cannabis resin valued at £19k.

Wright gave no comment when interviewed by police but pleaded guilty when he appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on March 4 this year.

Defending, Adrian Evans said Wright had been a carer for his parents, in particular his father who had multiple sclerosis until he passed away.

Since his father's death, Wright had remained the main carer for his mother and, since the arrest, he had suffered with depression.

Mr Evans added: "He has demonstrated he is a loving son to his mother and has acted selflessly, putting her needs before his."

He added Wright had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Sentencing Wright, the Recorder said: "Your family background is fairly sad. You are somebody who can be relied on but you involved yourself in this drug dealing with an expectation of substantial financial gain."

As well as the 32-month jail term, the cannabis-related items were seized and forfeited.