A DRUG dealer was photographed selling cannabis near a primary school by a concerned member of the public, a court has heard.

Residents in Spennymoor also identified Kayne Steven Briggs as a dealer at the monthly Police and Community Together (Pact) meeting, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard.

Acting on the received information, officers executed a search warrant at the 26-year-old’s home on North Street, Spennymoor, on September 21 last year where they seized 8.23g of cannabis worth around £50, a mobile phone, scales, £230 in cash and other drugs related paraphernalia.

Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said the phone contained hundreds of text messages related to the dealing of cannabis.

A resident took pictures of Briggs dealing the Class B drug near Rosa Street Primary School in Spennymoor, the court heard.

Ms Wilson said he would sell the drugs for £20 at a time and was operating purely to make money, with his deals causing much concern to the community.

The court heard Briggs has no previous convictions but received a caution in 2013 for possessing a Class B substance.

Amrit Jandoo, in mitigation, said the deals were done outside of school hours, for example after 6pm on week days or on weekends, and there was no suggestion he was selling drugs to children.

Mr Jandoo said: “He did the deals near the school because it was a quiet area close to his home.”

The solicitor said Briggs resorted to selling drugs after losing his job as a metal worker in 2012 when he was not given time off to go to his grandmother’s funeral.

Mr Jandoo described the street dealing as a short-term enterprise.

Magistrates ordered Briggs to carry out 200 hours unpaid work over the next 12 months and demanded he pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

They also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized at Briggs’ home.

Speaking after the case, acting sergeant Paul Colman from the Spennymoor Neighbourhood beat team praised the public’s role in catching Briggs.

He said: “This is a fine example of how people can help the police tackle these problems that are affecting our communities.”

Information can be reported to police via 101.