AN OFFENDER who admitted a drug supply charge on the first day of a criminal trial has avoided a prison sentence.

Jay Legg was arrested by police back in July 2018 after he was stopped by officers and tried to dispose of a package containing drug wraps.

Legg, of Huntvale Road, Bournemouth, did not appear in court in relation to this matter until October of last year.

The 27-year-old was due to stand trial in January before he changed his plea in front of the jury on the opening morning of the hearing.

He admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of a quantity of a Class A drug and appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on March 12 to be sentenced.

Judge Stephen Climie told the defendant that on the evidence heard he accepted that Legg was a "changed man" since the offence but he issued a strong warning.

"If you ask for a chance and I give you a chance and you throw it back in my face, you go to prison," said Judge Climie. "I don't give second chances."

Prosecuting, William Goss said police stopped the defendant in the Bournemouth Road area of Poole with another man.

Both men were on bicycles and as they were being stopped the defendant threw a package on a bridge.

This was recovered and examined, with officers finding wraps of cocaine inside the package.

In total around 4.24 grams of the Class A drug was recovered, while a mobile phone in the defendant's possession had messages offering to supply drugs to others.

Mr Goss said it was accepted that Legg had a lesser role in the terms of the sentencing guidelines, with him supplying drugs on a social basis.

Mitigating, David Jenkins told the court the case was one of "some age" through no fault of the defendant, with the offence taking place almost three years ago.

The barrister said Legg got into the wrong crowd while he was away from the area at college before getting into an even worse crowd in the local area.

Legg's arrest was a "wake up call for him" and "he is not that man anymore", his representative said.

"The defendant has made significant changes in the intervening period," said Mr Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins said Legg is completely free from drugs and he had also stopped smoking cigarettes.

The court was told Legg found employment in the marine industry, working on high-value yachts.

"This is a man who has got on with his rehabilitation," said the barrister.

The judge handed the defendant a three-year community order, which included a four-month overnight curfew, 150 hours of unpaid work and up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Legg was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

As the defendant left the dock, Judge Climie said: "Do not go back to where you were."

Legg replied: "No chance."