A man from Halesworth who was found with at least £1,400 of cannabis has been handed a community order.

On Thursday, 29-year-old Tadeu Fialho appeared at Ipswich Crown Court facing charges of possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

The court heard that Tadeu, of Mount Pleasant in Halesworth, was found with a quantity of cannabis which, depending on how it was to be sold, had a net worth of between £1,400 and £2,500.

Police attended his home address on September 8, 2021, with a warrant to search the premises. After gaining entry, they found the defendant in his bedroom.

A search was undertaken, and a quantity of cannabis, cannabis resin and various quantities was found in a variety of locations, an amount totalling 200.43 grams. A quantity of cocaine weighing 3.89 grams was also discovered, as were two mobile phones, one believed to be a burner phone, a set of digital scales, a knife, and £660 in cash.

Tadeu pleaded guilty to both charges.

In sentencing him, His Honour Judge Martyn Levett said that the supply of drugs, cannabis particularly, had become a significant problem and a “social nuisance”.

One only has to walk down the street these days to smell the wafting smell of marijuana that is fast replacing the ozone smell from the River Orwell,” he said.

He added that the effect cannabis of users’ mental health, particularly in the form of flowering head, could not be overstated.

Judge Levett handed Tadeu a 12-month community order, under which he will be required to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

He ordered the forfeiture of the scales and the knife and said that the £660 would go towards Suffolk police, funding their work fighting crime in the community.