DRUG dealing in Dudley's High Street is becoming a matter of major concern, a judge has been told.

The problem is prevalent and it results in complaints on a regular basis from members of the public - prosecuter Kanwal Juss said at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday June 28.

She said dealers were using void properties in the High Street to carry out their illegal trade.

And it was after he was seen acting suspiciously in the doorway of one of the void shops that Trevor Smith was arrested, Mrs Juss said.

She said a Police Community Support Officer followed 60-year-old Smith to the market area where he was arrested.

When searched Smith was found to have 23 bags of cannabis in his possession together with £116 in cash.

Then, when his home was also searched, police found a further £1,025 worth of the controlled drug together with a number of dealing bags.

Smith of Court Road, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to steal.

He was given an eight-month jail term suspended for 18 months and told to obey a three-month curfew order between the hours of 8.30pm and 6am.

Judge John Wait said Smith must also pay £300 costs and he told him: "You were supplying drugs to supplement your benefits.

"The supply of drugs is an extremely serious offence and ordinarily it results in an immediate sentence of imprisonment."

David Isles, defending Smith, said he was a street dealer who maintained he only sold drugs to known drug users.