AN Ellesmere Port man who was put on a suspended prison sentence in March for dealing cannabis was caught doing exactly the same crime two months later.

Kraig Paul Aylward, 35, of Chapel Close, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the 16 street deals of cannabis – exactly the same number as the last time he was caught by police.

Sentencing him at Chester Crown Court on Friday, June 12, Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett – who had sentenced Aylward in March – had no hesitation in activating the six-month suspended sentence, plus the additional six months for the new offence, making 12 months.

Prosecuting, Derek Jones said it was 7.20pm on May 7 when Aylward was stopped by police in his car on Hillside Drive, Ellesmere Port.

Aylward immediately volunteered the evidence that he had 16 bags of cannabis, each one being a £20 street deal.

Also found were drug-dealing paraphernalia, and a mobile phone which included messages consistent with that of drug deals.

Aylward had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and four previous convictions for 13 offences. There was a long gap in his drug offending between 2005 and 2018, but the most recent conviction was in March.

Defending, Natalie Byrne said Aylward had volunteered his phone PIN to the police when stopped.

He had been "incredibly foolish", she told the court, explaining he had tried to obtain work but failed, and was under pressure to help an ex-partner who was struggling financially.

Since being put in prison, he had obtained a number of jobs and was hoping to continue that strong work ethic.

Judge Everett told Aylward: "You were clearly supplying cannabis on the street.

"I remind you what I told you three months ago – cannabis is an evil drug.

"You are selling these drugs during lockdown, There are just so many things wrong with what you did. You were sentenced in March for an almost identical offence."

Judge Everett explained Aylward had been given a chance back in March as that drug-dealing offence had been committed in 2018, but there were no second chances on this occasion.