A TEENAGER caught dealing cannabis has been given two months to prove he can get off the drug.

James Madden was caught being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cannabis resin a little over a week after his 17th birthday at his home in Brown Avenue, Whitecrook.

Now 18, Madden appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week for sentencing and got a telling off from Sheriff Frances McCartney for continuing to use the drug and dealing at such a young age.

Police turned up with a warrant at 4.35am on October 4, 2018, and began searching the home.

They found a bag with green herbal material weighing 49.98g and worth about £190. They also found a piece of brown resin that was 102.84g and worth £290.

There was a set of scales, a plastic tub containing traces of herbal material, and £110 in mixed notes.

A rucksack was found, heard the court, with another set of scales, another tub and more herbal material.

Police took possession of Madden’s mobile phone and there were text messages coming from people seeking to buy cannabis from him.

Madden’s defence solicitor said his client “accepted he bought it and would sell it”.

But the sheriff pointed out Madden told social workers: “I had no intention of selling this to others.”

His lawyer said that was not correct and his client did accept he was supplying drugs.

He said: “He is a young 18 years old. It’s a serious charge, it’s a significant value. I would submit there’s an alternative disposal [to custody] which would allow him to make reparation for the crime in the community.”

Sheriff McCartney said she was concerned by the serious nature of the charge.

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She said: “Dealing in drugs is a scourge on society. I’m very concerned that someone of his age is involved in this.

“He appears to be still using cannabis, although it’s been reduced.”

She told Madden: “It’s not very good for your mental health. If you take it on a regular basis, it’s very likely you may suffer mental health problems.

“You will need to ensure you have shown the court you have left cannabis behind.”

Sentence was deferred until January 16, 2020, for Madden to be of good behaviour and to stop using cannabis. He told the sheriff from the dock he would.