AN accountant who was found with cocaine, a kilo of cannabis and a samurai sword has been given a chance to avoid jail.

Siavash Banai, 30, was dealing drugs to fund his own crack cocaine habit which was costing him around £200 a day.

But a judge said he would be “throwing a baby out with the bathwater” if he was to send Banai straight to jail.

The defendant, of Lowther Road in Bournemouth, was stopped by a police officer on November 25 of last year after his car was flagged as being uninsured.

After he gave a false name to the officer, Banai was detained for a drug search.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott said a black leather pouch was found in his vehicle which contained 11 bags of cocaine totalling to 21.75 grams.

A green rucksack in the car also contained £875 in cash and a further 21.55 grams of the class A drugs.

Banai’s home was then searched, and officers located more than 50 bags containing 'remnants of cannabis’ which amounted to 1,000 grams, as well as a ‘decorative samurai sword’.

In a police interview, the defendant said he had bought the sword as a gift for someone but had ended up keeping it.

He admitted selling Class A drugs, which he said he did to fund his addiction, but claimed the cannabis was for personal use and not for sale.

Banai was charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of Class B drugs, and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

The defendant appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, February 23.

Speaking without legal representation, Banai told the court he was introduced to crack cocaine by his girlfriend and had become addicted.

He accepted he would have made a significant sum through selling cocaine, if it wasn’t for the amount he was using personally.

Banai also said he had begun going to a Cocaine Anonymous group.

Judge Robert Pawson said: “There is an exceptional procedure I can follow, and it basically is a contract between you and me.

“I will defer sentence for six months. You are to continue going to Cocaine Anonymous weekly, you are to see your GP and enquire about other drugs assistance, and liaise with probation service.

"You’re not to use cocaine or any other illegal drugs for the next six months, and you’re not to re-offend in any way at all.

“If you do all those things in six months, then I won’t send you immediately into custody. If you fail to comply, I’ll send you straight to prison. That’s the deal.

“You’re 30. You’re intelligent. You have a career ahead of you. It’s up to you.”

Banai is due to return to Bournemouth Crown Court on August 23.