A CANNABIS dealer who lived in a caravan at the bottom of his parents' back garden lamented his "no good life" to police who arrested him after smelling the drug in his mobile home, a court heard today.

Dominic Cross, 20, of Station Road, Blockley, moaned to officers about having no job, no help and no worthwhile life.

"I'm not able to find a job anywhere, I'm not getting any help from anyone anywhere," he said.

"I just sit down and have a smoke and it stops me getting into trouble," he added.

After hearing what Cross said, Judge Jamie Tabor QC, sitting at Gloucester Crown Court, commented "It was a litany of self pity."

The judge heard that in fact smoking cannabis did not keep Cross out of trouble - the police had gone to his caravan to arrest him for an offence of criminal damage and they noticed the smell of cannabis while they were there.

Prosecutor Philip Warren said "He was found to be in possession of 5ozs of herbal cannabis on the coffee table. He volunteered a rucksack which had a 'cannabis dealer's kit" in it, he said.

Judge Tabor remarked "Have you ever come across a dealer's bag that is overweight?"

Mr Warren replied "They are always a 'light ounce.'

Digital scales were also found.

The cannabis found would have made 85 street deals at a price of £1,700, added Mr Warren.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, said Cross now had a job with a window fabricator factory in Moreton and would be working 7.30am-4pm five days a week.

Judge Tabor told Cross "You are still young. You have got a lot of growing up to do."

Cross replied "Indeed I do, yes."

"Nice to know we are in agreement," said the judge.

He passed an eight months jail term suspended for a year, fined him £500 and ordered him to pay £200 costs. He also ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work and told him: "You will have a real workload now and you won't be bored and sitting in your caravan wondering what to do with yourself."