A smirking drugs dealer has been ordered to spend the next year at his Dover home wearing an electronic tag.

Jobless James Igglesden was seen by police officers, who had been called to a disturbance near his flat in Auden Way in March.

Canterbury Crown Court heard when he spotted police he laughed before running away and dropping a rucksack containing cannabis.

The 22-year-old former hotel porter was caught by police in Tower Hamlets Road when drugs and £1,600 in cash were found.

Now he has been told he must remain at his home from 8.30pm to 7am after admitting possessing cannabis intending to sell it.

Igglesden lied about the rucksack and claimed the money came from the sale of a motorbike.

And when he was interviewed by a court probation officer the benefits claimant, who hasn’t worked for two years, began smirking claiming he needed to sell drugs in order to eat.

David Elvin QC told him: "I am not impressed that you lied and continued to lie before eventually pleading guilty.

"It is clear you are immature and, when interviewed by probation showed a tendency to smirk when asked to about your involvement in offending.

"Neither did you show any remorse."

The court heard how cannabis and £625 were found in the rucksack and officers discovered more cannabis and £1,000 in cash at his home.

Igglesden, who appeared in the dock using crutches after a motorcycle crash, was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

John Barker, defending, said if his client was jailed he would lose his flat.

He added that Iggleden's smirking and "child-like behaviour" was down to nervousness.