A MAN who was caught driving in a Felixstowe High School playground with large amounts of drugs in his car has been spared jail.Adrian Drage, of Seaton Road, was spotted by police driving his Ford Escort around Deben High School with a pound of cannabis in his possession.

A MAN who was caught driving in a Felixstowe High School playground with large amounts of drugs in his car has narrowly escaped jail.

Adrian Drage, of Seaton Road, was spotted by police driving his Ford Escort around Deben High School with a pound of cannabis in his possession.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Drage, 19, suffered from "low self esteem and a degree of immaturity" and was taking the cannabis round to his girlfriend to impress her.

Police seized 246 grams of cannabis resin and 138 grams of herbal cannabis from the car. Drage's home was then searched and a further 12 grams of resin and 34 grams of leaf were discovered.

The court heard that the total street value of the drugs was £1,832.

Drage said he had bought the large amounts mainly for his own use but admitted he did intend to supply a small amount to friends through his girlfriend.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing class B drugs and two charges of possession with intent to supply.

Judge Peter Thompson said for the purpose of the sentencing "You are treated as a drug dealer. You bought a substantial quantity for about £420 this does cross the custody threshold."

However he gave Drage a last chance by ordering him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and 12 months probation instead of prison. He said: "If you breach this order you will go to prison you cannot slide through life using cannabis to avoid your responsibilities. If you were to be found in possession of drugs of this quantity again you would be in deep trouble."

It is not believed the incident took place while children were in the school.