Two men carrying more than �12,000 worth of cannabis through the town were caught red-handed by an observant policeman, a court has heard.

The officer was on patrol in Nacton Road, Ipswich, on December 9 when he spotted the men pushing a bicycle which had a large bag on it. As he got close to them he noticed a strong smell of cannabis, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

A search of the bag revealed a number of mature cannabis plants as well as loose cannabis with a maximum street value of �12,700, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

Before the court were Phillip Yarnton, 25, of Shenstone Drive, Ipswich and Darren Taylor, 26, of no fixed address.

Taylor admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and passing a counterfeit �20 note as genuine and was jailed for ten months.

Yarnton admitted supplying cannabis and two offences of possessing cannabis and was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid work in the community.

Roger Thomson, for Taylor, said he had stolen the cannabis from a greenhouse. He had initially put the cannabis in his pockets but had then found a bag and filled that as well. “He got more than he bargained for in the quantity of cannabis,” said Mr Thomson.

He said Taylor, who was homeless at the time, had intended to use some of the cannabis himself and to supply some of it to other people.

Richard Wood for Yarnton said his client had moderate learning difficulties and was susceptible to peer pressure.

He said Yarnton had sold small amounts of cannabis and had used the money to fund his own habit and to buy food.