Estate agent Cameron Idrees has been given a 24-month suspended sentence, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work after admitting to possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Idrees was stopped by police for not wearing a seat belt, and found with 88 bags of cocaine.

The 24-year-old panicked and ran off, Leeds Crown Court was told. He was chased down and after being apprehended suggested he had dumped the drugs nearby.

A total of 88 small bags of cocaine worth £3,300 and £2,000 in cash were found under a van.

Idrees, of Beeston, Leeds, said he and his family were facing threats of violence unless he sold the drugs because he had racked up a £3,300 debt.

Defence solicitor Marte Alnaes told the court: “There’s no doubt it’s a serious offence but this is very much a one off, arising out of problems he is trying to deal with.

“He is more than capable of being a law-abiding citizen, the issue here boils down to drug use. It’s unlikely he will find himself in a criminal court again.”

She said that Idrees, who continues to work as an estate agent, had admitted it was a “stupid mistake” to have started taking drugs, which led to a debt of £3,300.

The judge, Recorder Michael Wheeler told Idrees: “You were effectively running drugs to pay off that debt. It appears to come from your recreational drug use.”

He acknowledged that Idrees was still in employment in a “responsible job”.