A drug dealer from Newhall was found upstairs in bed while two young children were asleep surrounded by cannabis in the living room, a court has heard.
The two youngsters, aged just eight and 10, were discovered at a home police raided as part of a drugs warrant at a property in The Fairway, where Robert Campbell was living with his partner.
A court heard how the 38-year-old had had to undergo surgery on his nose to repair damage caused by his cocaine addiction.
And, despite police uncovering almost £1,600 of cannabis, £1,700 in cash, digital scales and “a large amount” of dealer bags, Campbell escaped an immediate prison term.
Derby Crown Court, sitting at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, heard how officers carried out raids on two homes linked to Campbell, both in Swadlincote, on April 1, 2016.
Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said: "At the first address, in The Fairway, the defendant was found in bed with his partner.
"Downstairs, sleeping in the living room, were two children aged eight and 10 and, in that room, were various items of drugs paraphernalia.
"There were digital scales, dealer bags and 18 bags of cannabis.
"Also discovered was a small amount of cocaine weighing 1.8g and of 77 per cent purity."
Miss Allen said a second local address linked to Campbell was also raided where more cannabis was recovered.
She said mobile phones were also seized and analysed and were found to contain evidence of drug deals.
In total £1,595 of cannabis was recovered from the two properties.
Miss Allen said Campbell, now of Palmer Close, Barton-Under-Needwood, said all of the drugs at the two addresses were for his own personal use and the £1,700 was money he and his partner had saved.
But he later pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to supply cannabis.
The court was told he had 13 convictions for 31 offences dating back to the 1990s, including arson, criminal damage and possessing cannabis.
Felicity Campbell, mitigating, said her client had been out of trouble since the raid, almost two years ago, and had "used that time positively."
She said: "At the time of these offences he had quite a severe cocaine addiction and everything was getting out of control for him.
"He has now sought and received help for his addiction including having surgery on his nose to correct it because of his cocaine habit."
Judge Robert Egbuna handed Campbell an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years.
He said: "I was intending to send you to prison but I have been persuaded not to because it is almost two years since (the offence), you have stayed out of trouble and you now live with your elderly mother who has suffered a stroke.
"But any breach of this sentence will be reserved to me and where you are going if you do breach this."
