A RESIDENT of a Wisbech drugs den closed by a court earlier this year has appeared in court. Ashley Townsend, 20, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply it to two people.

A RESIDENT of a Wisbech drugs den closed by a court earlier this year has appeared in court.

Ashley Townsend, 20, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply it to two people.

At the end of the case, presiding magistrate Peter Waterfield had a stinging message for unemployed Townsend: "Sitting around with your mates smoking pot is a bloody waste of time."

Mr Waterfield added: "You are wasting your life. We have heard you could be a good engineer, go anywhere for a job."

Police raided Townsend's former home at 59 Kinderley Road on January 8, following reports of a strong smell of cannabis coming from the flat, said prosecutor Andrea Fawcett.

Four men and the defendant were found inside; cannabis was found on a table, with another three bags of the class C drug and two cannabis cigarettes in a bedroom. The drugs weighed 6.12g and had a street value of around �35.

Townsend admitted that he and friends had pooled some cash and he spent �40 on cannabis.

Mrs Fawcett said: "He had brought it back to the flat and started smoking it with friends; he usually let friends smoke cannabis at the flat."

The flat was made subject to a three-month closure order earlier this year, meaning that Townsend, his father Mark and brother Stephen had to leave the property. At that hearing, magistrates were told that the flat had become known as an address where cannabis could be bought.

Mitigating, solicitor James Macwhirter said Townsend was extremely well qualified in engineering, with NVQs and a distinction at BTEC.

Townsend was ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and pay �85 costs.