A Bristol father-of-three caught with £3,500 of cannabis was told he had been spared jail by "a whisker."

Police seized bars of cannabis resin when they raided Martin Healy's home in Padstow Road, Knowle West, in April.

Healy, 52, was arrested and later admitted one charge of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and two charges of possessing cannabis.

He was given a 35-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

William Hunter, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, said officers called at Healy's home early on April 4 with a drugs warrant.

He said the defendant showed officers a tin in his kitchen where he kept 116g (4.1oz) of cannabis before another 133g (4.7oz) was found in a cupboard.

The search then uncovered a dealer's list, electronic scales, self-seal bags and four 255g (9oz) bars of cannabis resin.

Mr Hunter said the street value of the drugs was about £3,500.

Timothy Rose, defending, said Healy started buying cannabis to sell to his friends when his family tax credit payments were suspended after a cheque was sent to the wrong address.

Sentencing Healy, Judge Carol Hagen told him he had put himself at risk of going to prison.

She said: "You have escaped by a whisker because people who possess drugs with intent to supply to others almost always go to prison."