A WIDOWED father of four caught with thousands of pounds worth of cannabis in his home has been spared jail - for the sake of his kids.

Jason Maggs, aged 39, of Abbots Leys Road, Winchcombe, admitted having the drug with intent to supply on September 8 last year but the prosecution accepted that he was only sharing it with friends.

Maggs was sentenced to a nine months community order with supervision and a drug rehab programme, last Friday .

Prosecutor Mary Harley said police found cannabis and dealing paraphernalia around Maggs’ house. The Crown valued the drugs at £6,500 but the defence maintained it was worth only about £3,000, she said.

For Maggs, Jon Holmes said his wife’s death led him to resort to cannabis. He has four children and is the sole carer for his two younger daughters, aged 13 and 16.