A MAN found with £5,000 worth of drugs, cash, and a stash of designer goods described as looking like a shop at the council flat where he lived with his teenage daughter has been spared prison.

Vincent Trommelen, 49, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

The court heard how police executed a warrant at Trommelen's home in Druid House, Acrefair, on 23 September, 2019.

Initially, he did not answer the door but let officers in when they attempted to force entry.

After Ffion Tomos, prosecuting, described the array of items found, Judge Niclas Parry described the scene as looking "like a shop".

There were designer clothes, rows of shoes, gift sets, jewellery, valuable coin collections and cigarette lighters, and £1,000 worth of make-up.

In addition, police found 160g of cannabis, with a value of £5,000, that had been divided into smaller sandwich bags. There was a smaller bag of cannabis valued at £300.

There were also two sets of scales, a grinder, a torch baton, baseball bat, three mobile phones, and £2,750 in sterling and £285 in Bulgarian lev.

Ms Tomos said: "Messages were found on the mobile phones indicating that this defendant was supplying cannabis to others."

The 49-year-old had 16 convictions for 34 offences, but none since 2014.

Ms Tomas said these previous convictions were an aggravating feature in the case along with the presence of weapons, and that a 14-year-old child lived at the property.

When questioned by police, Trommelen said he used cannabis for pain relief and had got into debt to someone he would not name.

David Greene, defending, said it could not be claimed the defendant had that quantity of drugs for personal use.

"As far as the circumstances are concerned," he said, "they do speak for themselves and they speak volumes. And the scepticism that is expressed in the pre-sentence report is something that I've highlighted to Mr Trommelen today.

He added: "All of that is now ceased. His offending was brought to a juddering halt back in September 2019 and there are no further matters outstanding since that date."

He asked the judge to consider the current coronavirus pandemic, which he described as "an exceptional period in the history of the UK".

Mr Greene said: "The most important feature is that there is a family unit behind this defendant, his partner and two children in the house - his teenage daughter and a young baby.

"Perhaps it can be said that what is true for their family unit is true for any family in these extraordinary times, which is they will be tested to the limit with two children under the same roof.

"For a family unit on benefits, his partner and children will be leaning on him every day to a great extent."

Sentencing Trommelen to 14 months, suspended for two years, the judge said: "Clearly only a custodial sentence can be justified."

"You were clearly a prolific, commercial supplier of Class B drugs from a local authority rented home. You were dealing from the home of young children. You were keeping drugs in the home of young children.

"Any suggestion that this was out of desperation is simply not borne out by fact that over £2,750 in cash was found in your home."

He added that the presence of the scales, grinder and weapons kept near the money and drugs confirmed that.

On the decision to suspend the sentence, Judge Parry added: "I bear in mind the deprivation of a father from a family on benefits with two children would have, and I consider the effect of the sentence on others.

"I have satisfied myself that there is a realistic chance of rehabilitation."