A DAD had nearly £30,000 worth of cannabis hidden in suitcases inside his home in Warrington.

Kyle Foster said he was just ‘holding’ the drugs to pay off the debts he had built up from his own drug addiction.

The 26-year-old appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Sunday for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to possessing cannabis with an intent to supply.

Prosecuting, Chris Hopkins said the offences happened on March 4 this year when police were called to Foster’s address on Westbrook Avenue in Latchford in relation to other matters.

Mr Hopkins said that while there, officers conducted a search of Foster’s address where they found two suitcases full of cannabis with a total weight of just under three kilos.

The class B drug was packaged in various sizes and scales and wraps were also found inside the suitcases.

Mr Hopkins said that at its lowest street value, the cannabis would be capable of being sold for £29,000.

The court heard how Foster, who is a dad, has no previous convictions.

Defending, Anna Duke said that her client’s basis of plea was based on a number of factors.

These include that last November, Foster lost his job as an electrician and that his mental health ‘spiralled out of control’ and he became addicted to cannabis.

As a result, the defendant built up £4,000 of debt and had no way of paying it.

The court heard how those he was in debt to suggested that he should hold the suitcases of cannabis until they told him to drop them off somewhere.

So as a result, he agreed to hold them to get rid off his debt.

Ms Duke said how her client is still a young man and that he is a family man with his own children.

Concluding, Recorder Gavin McBride said: “Prior to this offence, you were a man of good character, but not anymore.

“At the time, you were addicted to cannabis, you got yourself into a mess.

“Your so-called associates got you to hold the suitcases, but you knew what was inside of them.

“Whatever pressure you felt you may be under, you should not have agreed to that.”

Foster was handed a 24-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work.