A drug user who supplied cannabis to friends to fund his own habit has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Derek Woolnough (25) was arrested when the police searched his home.
They found a small amount of cannabis consistent with personal use.
However, his mobile phone contained incriminating text messages indicating he had been dealing in the class B drug to about 23 associates.
Woolnough, of Garth Avenue, Mowmacre Hill, Leicester, admitting possessing cannabis and being concerned in offering to supply it.
Neil Bannister, prosecuting, told the city's crown court that officers raided his ground floor flat on April 2.
The defendant unsuccessfully tried to escape out of the back of the property.
Half a gram of cannabis, a cannabis grinder and £600 were seized.
The cash was confiscated by the court.
Woolnough, a father of two, was given a 10 month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £480 court costs.
Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "For a three month period, earlier this year, you were supplying cannabis to at least 23 people in order to fund your habit.
"You were able to make some money out of it because, on your arrest, the police seized £600. "I'm told you're almost certain of getting full time employment in the near future.
"You've made a conscious effort to turn your life around."
Thomas Schofield, mitigating, said: "He's significantly reduced his cannabis intake and there's some ray of hope he'll be in full-time work soon."
