A soldier who served in Iraq was caught with bin bags full of cannabis in a car boot, a court heard.
Douglas Gallagher was a passenger in a Ford Focus which was searched by the police, after two officers smelt a strong cannabis aroma from the vehicle as they drove by, on New Parks Way, Leicester.
Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said: "They followed the silver Focus which stopped in Stephenson Drive, on July 6, 2014.
"Gallagher was a passenger and in the glove box officers found a 1.56 grams of cannabis and a cannabis grinder.
"In the boot were three bin bags filled with cannabis with stalks and flowering tops.
"The tops weighed 1.093 grams with a value of between £8,800 and £13,660."
Gallagher (39), of Hayfield Close, Glenfield, pleaded guilty, at an earlier hearing, to possessing the class B drug with intent to supply it – on the basis he would have supplied only to known acquaintances.
Miss Rose said Gallagher was not involved in the production of the cannabis, which had been grown at the home of the driver of the Focus, who is at large.
Gallagher, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, following his experience in Iraq in 2003, was given a nine month jail sentence suspended for two years, with supervision.
Judge Robert Brown said: "The vehicle you were a passenger in was found to have cannabis in bin bags in the boot.
"They were clearly produced from a cannabis grow.
"I've heard you have a mental health illness and are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and you need to continue receiving treatment for it.
"It has its roots in your service with the army in 2003.
"Your mental health led to you developing a cannabis habit and it got out of hand.
"The prosecution accept you weren't involved in the production of the cannabis.
"I have read medical reports on you.
"You have no previous convictions for offences involving drugs."
Clarkson Baptiste, mitigating, said: "When discharged from the services he wasn't dealt with appropriately in terms of his welfare thereafter.
"He wasn't aware of any problems for some time, until he became a father of two.
"He began to reflect upon his actions in the war and what he witnessed and he couldn't sleep for many months."
Mr Baptiste added: "He made voluntary admissions at the roadside to the police."
