Carlisle schoolboy began selling cocaine and cannabis when he was 15

Police discovered that Nathan Lamb, who is now 18, was peddling the illicit drugs after officers raised his Morton home in the city and seized his mobile phones, on which they found incriminating messages and a debtors' list.

The teenager pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the two drugs, having committed the offences between May 1, 2020, and October 9 the next year.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, said police visited the then 17-year-old’s home to look for drugs but failed to find any. They did, however, find three mobile phones.

“An examination of two of those devices revealed messages indicating both the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and requests for supply on the Facebook Messenger platform,” said Mr Burke.

Phone conversations featured mentions of high-quality cannabis and cocaine as well as so-called “text-bomb” notifications to local users about the available drugs, which were sent out to as many as 30 local users.

Mr Burke said: “In the notes section of his phone police found a debtors’ list, indicating that he was in a position to supply drugs and credit. He is now 18, but the offences were committed when he was 15 and 16.”

The barrister confirmed that Lamb was of previous good character.

Megan Tollitt, defending, said it was now 19 months since the defendant was apprehended and the reasons for the long delay in the case being concluded were not clear but that was not the fault of the defendant.

“He had just turned 17 in the week before his arrest,” said the barrister.

“Nevertheless, this young man has been assessed as somebody of low maturity in any event, and less able to appreciate the consequences of his actions than an adult... He used the word idiot when expressing his general remorse.”

The defendant's schooling broke down because of dyslexia. His relationship with his mum also broke down, and he had moved out to live with a friend, though he was now back at the family home.

During that earlier period, Lamb, of Highfield Avenue, Morton, turned to cannabis as a coping mechanism. “It was through his own drug use that he became involved in the supply of drugs,” continued the barrister.

“In the 19 months since his arrest, he has taken steps to rebuild his relationship with his mother and she is supporting him in court today.” He had recently ceased using cannabis, added Miss Tollit

Recorder Julian Shaw told Lamb that adults convicted of such drug supply offences usually face a jail term of three to five years.

“But you didn’t commit these offences as an adult,” said the judge. “You were a child, a youth, a young man with considerable difficulties. You were adjusting and attempting to come to terms with those circumstances."

The judge commended the defendant for accepting responsibility for his wrongdoing and he said Lamb owed his mother a profound debt of gratitude and needed to repay that love and unconditional support.

He noted also how the defendant’s mother had helped Lamb kick his cannabis habit, saying this was extremely impressive. He added: “Cannabis and the link to mental health problems is extremely well know.”

Recorder Shaw said that dealing drugs was a slippery slope.

“It’s not a game; it’s not a sport. It’s a slippery slope that gives countless people dreadful life experiences."

Through involvement with drugs, many find themselves wasting their lives in prison or detention.

The judge added: “But I’m not going to lock you up because I recognise that you were so young at the time and it would be quite wrong now to impose a custodial sentence on one who has taken every opportunity to turn his life around.”

The Recorder imposed a two-year community order, which includes 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work.

For free advice and information, check out the FRANK website. More information is also available, targeted at concerned parents, from the YoungMinds website.