A DRUG dealer was caught when he was found collapsed in his car after suffering an epileptic fit.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Muhammad Atcha had been selling cannabis and police found £500 worth of the drug in his car along with phones, scales and £3,500 in cash.

Atcha, aged 21, claimed he had been selling the drug to his friends and using it himself in a bid to control his epilepsy.

Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, told the court how police were contacted by a member of the public on October 18, 2020, who was concerned about seeing an unconscious man in a VW car parked on Adelaide Street, Bolton.

“Officers attended and they found the defendant asleep in the driver’s seat of the car and on opening the car there was a strong smell of cannabis,” said Miss Gaskell.

There was a short struggle during which police had to use PAVA spray on Atcha before he was arrested.

Drugs weighing a total of just over 50g, equipment, phones and cash were seized.

“In interview, the defendant accepted possession of the cannabis. He stated that he intended to share that with his friends,” said Miss Gaskell.

“He was unaware of how he came to be passed out in the vehicle but stated that he had suffered from seizures in the past.”

Atcha, of Burwell Close, Bolton, has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Ben Berkson, defending, stressed that Archa has not offended since.

“This offence occurred at a period of time in lockdown. A recent diagnosis of epilepsy led to a very poor life decision which was to cope with that diagnosis by becoming dependant on cannabis,” said Mr Berkson.

“He was found unconscious in a vehicle as a result of an epileptic fit.”

He added that Atcha has now removed illegal drugs from his life, is taking proper medication and has seen a positive change in his health.

Atcha hopes to go to university to study psychology and Mr Berkson appealed to Judge Rachel Smith not to jail him immediately.

Sentencing him, the judge told him: “It seems to me this was a substantial quantity of cannabis with all the paraphernalia of your measuring out cannabis for people who you knew to sell it to them and make a profit from so doing.”

But she added that, due to a positive pre-sentence report she was just persuaded not to jail him.

He was sentenced to a community order for 30 months during which he must undertake 100 hours of unpaid work and participate in 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

A proceeds of crime hearing to deprive Atcha of his drug-dealing profits will be held on November 10.