A UNIVERSITY student who was caught with a rucksack of cocaine and cannabis in his car has escaped jail.

Wesley Burns, who is studying for a Masters degree in obesity and weight management at Chester University, was in his car on Christmas Day 2015 when he was spotted by police in Back Lord Street, Kearsley.

Officers chased and arrested him when he ran off and found cannabis in bags on the front passenger seat as well as a rucksack containing more of the drug and cocaine, in the boot.

In total there was 248g of cannabis and 19g of 80 percent pure cocaine in 50 packages.

Burns, aged 22, of Hazel Avenue, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply but denied possessing the cocaine with intent to supply.

A jury did not believe his claim that the rucksack belonged to his dealer.

Recorder Thomas Ryan was told by Allan Compton, defending, that Burns, a father of two who also works as a personal trainer at the Pure gym in Salford, comes from a decent family and had only been buying cannabis for around nine months to deal to a small group of people he knew.

Burns claimed that, on Christmas Day, he had been couriering the cocaine after being pressurised by a dealer he was in debt to. Recorder Ryan accepted that there was no evidence Burns was dealing the cocaine himself.

Mr Compton stressed: “This was a one off supply of class A with a modicum of pressure by a young man when he had got completely out of his depth in the drug world.”

He added that Burns’ family are “devastated” by his criminal behaviour.

“Wesley Burns himself is genuinely ashamed,” said Mr Compton.

Recorder Ryan decided that with “a considerable degree of clemency” he could suspend Burns’ 18 month prison sentence for two years.

Burns must also undertake 300 hours unpaid work and will be subject to an electronically tagged 9pm to 5am curfew for nine months.