A DRUG dealer was caught out when he was found at his girlfriend’s house looking spaced out and sleepy.

Peter William Penman, 27, was reported to police by a support worker who visited his girlfriend’s house and was concerned at what she saw.

Penman had apparently offered his girlfriend drugs, and appeared to be under the influence himself when the support worker visited on December 23 2017.

But when he was asked to leave he started to complain and ask where he was supposed to go.

The support worker called the police and on hearing the sirens, Penman - who was partially dressed, “shot up like a shotgun” from the sofa and got the rest of his clothes on.

When police arrived, they found Penman “extremely spaced out, talking but not making much sense,” Preston Crown Court heard.

They found an Adidas shoulder bag containing a number of wraps and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply amphetamines.

An examination of Penman’s phone revealed a message the previous day, asking “know anyone after an ounce of speed?”

That day, Penman had sent text messages to seven contacts, asking “After any speed?”

There were also a number of messages referring to coke, stones and white.

Penman pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of amphetamine, possession of amphetamine and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said he was “a low level dealer” with the drugs having a street value of between £60 - £180.

In Penman’s defence, Bob Sastry told the court at the time of the offences Penman was a heavy drug user who had been “leaned on” by his dealer.

He has since moved away from the area.

Judge Simon Medland QC, sentencing, said: “If you concern yourself with drugs you come into contact with more threatening and violent people who just want you to get more and more involved in drugs.

“They ruin your life and the lives of people around you.”

He sentenced Penman, formerly of Keppel Street, to 18 months suspended for two years with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work.