A chef caught with almost a kilo of cannabis was “holding” the drug for others having run up a debt from his own use of weed, a court has heard. A judge told the 24-year-old defendant he had put his loved ones through a great deal of distress and he needed to put his cannabis use behind him once and for all.

Harry Dickens, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that Tybion Jones was arrested on November 6 this year after police responded to reports of a domestic incident – a report which did not lead to any further action being taken. He said officers searched the address and found a large black bag in a bedroom which contained 20 separate bags containing a total of 989g of cannabis worth between £3,000 and £6,000. Officers also recovered a knife.

Tybion Jones, of Waun y Felin, Penclawdd, Gower, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply when he returned to the dock for sentencing. The plea was entered on the basis that he was holding the drug for others and was not supplying it for financial gain. The defendant has no previous convictions. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

Craig Jones, for Jones, said his client had always worked as a chef, and latterly had been sous chef at a Wagamama restaurant. He said were the defendant to maintain his liberty he had secured future employment at a tapas-type restaurant which would be opening in the Mumbles area in the new year. He said he knew the court would be concerned to hear mention of a knife in connection with the case but he said the item was “ornamental” rather than anything more sinister.

Judge Huw Rees said he had read that the defendant first began using cannabis at the age of 13 and, having run up a £400 debt, found himself “overwhelmed by the situation” and ended up holding the 989g of cannabis for others. He said Jones was a young man with a good work ethic but who had caused great distress to his loved ones, and told him he needed to put his cannabis use behind him once and for all.

The judge said he could send the defendant to prison but, given his age, his good character, and lack of previous convictions, along with his employment prospects, he was not going to do that. Jones was made the subject of a 12 months community order and was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

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