An associate of a drugs gang has been spared jail, despite planning to offload cannabis worth £5,000.

Jason Proctor, pictured, of Walton Road, Shirehampton, was given a suspended sentence yesterday by Judge Michael Longman for conspiring to supply the drugs and possessing cocaine.

Prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, Claire Marlow told how police officers had seen Proctor meet with key members of the gang, Duncan Whitefoot and Stephen Carter, the director of Burdalls Yard nightclub on London Road, Bath.

On May 25, 2007, Proctor, 36, was seen driving into engineering company Strachan & Henshaw's premises in Ashton Vale Road, where he spoke to Whitefoot.

On June 20, 2007, at 5pm, two cars were seen in the Fox and Goose pub near Bristol airport, one belonging to Proctor and another used by Carter and Whitefoot.

Proctor was accompanied by a man known as "Mr McDonald", went into the pub for a discussion, then they both left.

The court also heard there was a "peak" in phone calls between Proctor and Whitefoot between June 19 and 21 that year, and a flurry of texts from Proctor on June 21 – the day Whitefoot was arrested.

Proctor was arrested close to the Burdalls Yard club in possession of 1.19g of 73 per cent pure cocaine. A search of the yard uncovered a "dealer's list" which showed he owed Whitefoot £1,500.

Proctor admitted conspiring to supply about 2.5kg of cannabis, and possessing the cocaine.

Judge Longman sentenced him to 50 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 180 hours' community work and £500 costs.

Carter, 54, of Farleigh Rise, Monkton Farleigh and Whitefoot, 48, of Littleton Drew near Chippenham, will be sentenced at a later date along with three other men.