A SOUTHAMPTON drug dealer who stuffed three lunchboxes with £2,000 worth of cannabis has been spared jail.

Wayne Paul Booker was spotted by officers who thought he was acting suspiciously when he was driving his Renault Kangoo.

Southampton Crown Court heard the officers followed the 35-year-old, who drove in a manner like he was trying to evade them.

Prosecuting, Jane Terry said when Booker parked his car, the officers noticed he was trying to hide a lunchbox under the vehicle.

The officers retrieved the lunchbox and found it was stuffed with cannabis. They also found £140 in cash in Booker’s wallet.

Police visited Booker’s address, in Taranto Road, Southampton where they found two other lunchboxes in a safe. The total haul was eight ounces of cannabis, with a street value of £2,000.

Miss Terry said Booker’s phone also contained messages agreeing to supply, and requests for cannabis.

Mitigating, Jamie Porter said the defendant had made full admission when questioned over his activity.

He added Booker was a long-term drug user who bought in “considerable bulk” because it was cheaper.

Mr Porter said the defendant knew he needed to stop and had even visited his GP in the hopes of addressing his drug use.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said: “I am giving you full credit for your guilty plea but this is still a serious matter – a prison sentence would be justified.

“You have been out of trouble for seven years, and I hope you can stay out of trouble.”

Booker, who admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply on March 17, was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activities and to abide by a four-month curfew.