A former law and criminology student was caught red-handed by police after smelling cannabis hidden inside his car.

Fayzan Akhtar was stopped in his Audi A3 by a patrol car on Queen Street in Great Harwood and seemed ‘quite nervous’ when being questioned, the court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how an officer could also smell cannabis and during a search found £100 worth of cannabis along with snap bags and digital scales hidden in a compartment underneath the gear stick.

Akhtar, 25, who previously studied on a year-long law and criminology course, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

He was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for 12 months with supervision and ordered to pay £250 costs.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, told the court how officers stopped Akhtar at around 4.20pm on July 21 last year. When he was arrested he said the drugs were for his own use and he bought in bulk ‘because it was cheaper’.

The court heard how his home on Hayhurst Street, Clitheroe was later searched and police found £1,000 in cash.

Mr Barr said two mobile phones were also recovered, however it showed no evidence of cannabis dealing.

Adrian Williams, defending, said: “It’s a familiar tale but it’s fairer to say he’s got in with the wrong crowd and people he wouldn’t normally associate with which has led to his demise.”

He told the court how he comes from a ‘very good family’ and how Akhtar had been able to ‘hide’ previous incidents involving possession of cannabis ‘but not this one as they came to the family home and searched it’.

Mr Williams said: “That certainly didn’t go down well and he has had to come clean entirely with his family.

“They are severely disappointed with him. They have taken a very tight control of his life.”

Judge Beverley Lunt said Akhtar had kept out of trouble for 12 months and got his life’ back on track’.

Sentencing she said: “There can be no circumstances whatever pressures you might be under to deal drugs.

“You now have the record of a drug dealer. You come from an excellent family who must be devastated by what you’ve put them through. You have paid a great deal of money in anticipating the legal fees and are not reliant on legal aid.”