FORMER drug dealer David Burgess failed to carry out the unpaid work he was sentenced to for supplying cannabis and amphetamines in Cirencester.

David Burgess, of Siddington Road in Watermoor, missed work appointments on January 28 and 31.

Emma Knott, representing 52-year-old Burgess at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday, said he did not attend because he had abdominal pain but had failed to supply his medical certificates in time.

Burgess had missed other appointments for the same reasons but had handed in certificates for those occasions, she said.

Hilary Cowmeadow, of the probation service, told the court that Burgess had also missed an appointment two weeks ago and had also failed to supply evidence for his absence then.

Ms Knott said his condition is under investigation at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but it is leaving him feeling “exhausted” by the time he finishes his paid employment each week.

She asked the court to give Burgess another chance by allowing the unpaid work order to continue, rather than jailing him.

Recorder Ian Lawrie QC punished Burgess by adding an extra ten hours of unpaid work to the order and also telling him to pay £60 court costs.

"Whatever your ailment or problem you need to appreciate that this is a court order which takes priority," said the Recorder.

Last year the court heard that Burges was caught with 52 packets of cannabis ready for sale.

He received an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, and was fined £2,000 and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

Burgess had pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and amphetamines with intent to supply on March 18 last year.

The prosecution said police raided Burgess' home on March 18 and found 119 grams of cannabis resin, another 12g of cannabis in a plastic bag plus 52 individually wrapped cannabis deals of 2g each.

There was also 5.24g of amphetamine, a set of scales and 700 small plastic bags ready to fill.

His mobile phone was later examined and revealed that he had been selling £10 deals of cannabis The total value of all the drugs found was just over £2,700.