A MAN has been jailed after admitting storing and dealing cannabis from his home.

When police raided Wesley Barlow’s home on July 14 they found him at the Bury New Road property with his partner, daughter and five other young children including two that were being unofficially fostered.

But Simon Barrett, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court that, in the basement, police discovered a holdall containing 1.7kg of cannabis, worth around £1,700, along with scales and gloves.

"In the living room, on the floor, was another bag which contained, what transpired to be, in excess of £30,000 in cash," he said.

When arrested 32-year-old Barlow accepted responsibility for the drugs and cash.

"He indicted that he was, in effect, acting as a custodian for most of the cannabis in that he was paid a weekly amount and also had his rent paid in exchange for storing the cannabis," said Mr Barrett, who added that Barlow claimed the money also belonged to others.

When mobile phones were examined they showed Barlow had also been selling smaller amounts of cannabis himself.

Barlow pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

The court heard that he has a number of previous convictions, including for producing cannabis, assault, harassment and criminal damage.

Neil Fryman, defending, said Barlow was "genuinely remorseful" and, while in custody awaiting sentence, has missed the birth of his child.

"In relation to the children who were being fostered, they are no longer in the family unit," said Mr Fryman, who added that Barlow's partner has a new property for him to return to and has the offer of a job on his release.

He stressed that Barlow had been under "some degree of pressure" to keep hold of the drugs.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Barlow to nine months in prison.

He told him: "You obviously had an awareness and understanding of the scale of what was going on. There was an element of personal gain to this."

Following the sentencing a spokesman for Bolton Council said: "We can confirm that the couple were not approved by us as foster carers and we did not place any children in the household.

"The couple applied to look after the children, who were known to them and had a moved there as a private arrangement, but the application was refused.

"The two children are now in local authority foster care."