A teen cannabis dealer has been banned from Cumbria and ordered to wear an electronic tag monitoring his movements.

Nineteen-year-old Nathan Radcliffe was arrested in Kendal and his illegal exploits were laid bare after officers searched an address in the town on August 19.

Liverpool-based Radcliffe was the only male present.

“He did not appear to live at the address and had in his possession a bag of spare clothing and a pair of trainers,” prosecutor Chloe Fordham revealed at Carlisle Crown Court.

“He did tell officers there was some cannabis in the house and that it was his.”

Officers found 10 snap-bags plus other amounts of the class B drug which had a total potential value of about £500. Almost £700 cash and three burner-type phones were also found.

“Analysis of the phones showed that the text messages on these phones had been deleted,” said Ms Fordham. “Save for one incoming text on one of these.” That message read: “Yo, I will buy the oz 200.”

“The Crown say that is a request from a buyer to buy an ounce of cannabis for £200,” the prosecutor added.

Radcliffe, of Cranmer Road, Liverpool, admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply and was said to have formerly had a girlfriend in South Cumbria.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said the teen had two 'extremely supportive parents'. “They acknowledge that they were aware that their son was using cannabis,” said Miss Whittlestone. “They didn’t approve of that. They were trying to tackle it.

“They did not realise the extent of that use and had got himself into debt and, it’s clear, mixing with others more involved than himself.

“He had found himself in a position that he was supplying drugs to others not only to satisfy a habit but to find the debt he had built up as a result of his repetitive use of cannabis.”

His experience had been a 'wake-up call', and Miss Whittlestone added: “He is willing and wanting to change.”

Radcliffe was given an 18-month community order comprising a rehabilitation requirement and 100 hours’ unpaid work. He must also complete a three-month nighttime curfew and will be fitted with an electronic tag.

This will also be used to enforce a court-imposed GPS monitoring requirement with a condition not to enter Cumbria.