A Pembroke man turned to drug dealing in order to afford Christmas presents for his children, a court heard yesterday (Tuesday).

Jeffrey Thomas, of 15 Gwillam Court, Monkton, pleaded guilty to possessing 26.7 grams of cannabis with an intent to supply.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan said that police executed a search warrant at the defendant's house on February 2nd.

She said they found cannabis in three separate cling film wraps, linen baskets, the kitchen worktop and carrier bags. Officers also recovered £540 in cash.

"In police interview he said he started dealing in October to raise money for Christmas presents for his children," she said.

"He said he had sold about 12 ounces of cannabis since then."

Ms Morgan said that Thomas, aged 24, had admitted there were usually small bits of cannabis left over from his sales which he would use up himself.

Defence lawyer James Subbiani said his client had not done anything of this nature before.

He said Thomas had run into financial problems after losing his job and moving in with his girlfriend last year: "He then came up with a hair-brained scheme to make money."

He added Thomas was involved in "bottom of the line dealing," and had recently found new employment on a fishing vessel.

Magistrates told the probation service they would need a full pre sentence report on Thomas. They warned him they were looking at handing down a medium to high community order sentence.