Scunthorpe man who handed bags of drugs to schoolgirls in the street is sentenced at crown court

TWO schoolgirls were given a bag of cannabis after being targeted by a drug dealer who approached them in the street.

But the man was later collared by police after the mum of one of them spotted what was going on, a court heard.

Mark Foster, 34, of Hadleigh Court, Frances Street, Scunthorpe, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply, possessing the drug and producing cannabis.

Mark Kendall, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that two schoolgirls got off a bus in Scunthorpe on December 18.

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They were approached by Foster, who offered them "weed", the court heard.

The prosecutor said they declined, but he followed them to another road and gave them a bag containing a small amount of herbal cannabis.

But the mother of one of the girls spotted what was going on and they told her what had happened and handed over a bag of cannabis, said Mr Kendall.

"One of the girls indicated they had been scared of the defendant's actions," said Mr Kendall.

The parents of the girls went to the house and confronted Foster, he said.

They called the police and he also did so – to say there were people at his house.

Officers found cannabis at the home and five cannabis plants, bags and a grinder, said Mr Kendall.

Edward Bindloss, mitigating, said Foster had a previous conviction for possessing cannabis and amphetamine in 2001, as well as other convictions.

The offence involving the schoolgirls had the "hallmarks of irrational behaviour" because Foster gave the drugs out without asking for money, gave them his address and alerted police himself, said Mr Bindloss.

It was a serious incident, he said, but said Foster did not behave like a "sophisticated and careful drug dealer" and showed the police where the cannabis was in his house.

"He is disgusted and ashamed of himself," said Mr Bindloss.

Foster was given a one- year supervision order, including six months of drug treatment.