A FATHER-of-one from Bicester who was caught attempting to deal cannabis was spared jail after it was heard he had turned his life around.

Lewis Bowsher, of Windle Gardens was given an eight-month prison sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday suspended for two years after admitting one count of possession with intent to supply the class B drug.

Prosecutor Nigel Ogborne told the court the 35-year-old was caught by police in April last year after they pulled over a man shortly after he had visited Bowsher's home to buy drugs.

Officers were driving along Kings End in Bicester at around 7.40pm on April 24 when they saw a red Volkswagen Golf move off in a suspicious manner, apparently as a result of their presence.

They pulled over the driver, who told them he was passing through the area and had stopped at his friend Bowsher's house in Windle Gardens to use the toilet.

However, when police searched the man and his car they discovered a small quantity of cannabis.

Police then went to search Bowsher's home in Windle Gardens and found boxes containing 28 grams of cannabis, as well as scales and a grinder.

Bowsher was arrested for possession with intent to supply and was taken to a police station where he was searched, during which police found a small wrap of cocaine, which he said was for personal use.

In his first interview Bowsher said his friend must have borrowed the cannabis, and that it was all for personal use.

In further interviews he continued to tell police he was not a drug dealer, but did admit that he sometimes sold cannabis to friends and family to help feed his own addiction to the drug.

Bowsher, who pleaded guilty possessing cannabis with intent to supply and to one count of possession of cocaine before magistrates in May this year, was also ordered to pay £420 in costs and complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Even though Claire Fraser, defending, said Bowsher had, since the time of his arrest, stopped using cannabis, Recorder Anna Laney also ordered him to participate in a 25 day rehabilitation course.