A BISHOP'S Castle man who supplied his friends with drugs to feed his own "spiralling" habit has escaped jail.

Connah Thorpe had provided cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis over a six month period as his involvement with drugs took over his life.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Recorder Nigel Daly gave the 20-year-old a suspended sentence after being told Thorpe had now “turned his life around” and stopped taking drugs.

The court heard Thorpe purchased drugs to provide to friends and the only benefit he had was to use the leftover drugs.

Thorpe, of Salop Street, Bishop's Castle, was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid work and must pay £500 court costs.

He had admitted offering to supply cocaine in September last year and offering to supply ecstasy between November 26 and December 1 last year.

Thorpe also admitted offering to supply cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply on dates in February this year.

Mr Stephen Bailey, prosecuting, said the offences and Thorpe’s drug use came to light on February 27 when he was caught shoplifting.

He said that Thorpe had told police he had drugs in his car and at his home and officers later recovered a bag of cannabis worth about £45 and another worth £30 and a grinder from Thorpe’s car.

Mrs Deborah White, for Thorpe, said her client had stopped using drugs in February as a direct result of what happened.

"What started as a bit of fun with friends turned into a habit which cost a lot of money and took over his life. It spiralled out of control," said Mrs White,.

"He is now wiser and has turned his life around,” she added.