AN UNEMPLOYED 17-year-old could face jail after officers caught him with a big stash of cannabis. The boy, from Dagenham, pleaded guilty at Barking Court to possessing 447 grams of the drug with intent to supply and to possessing another 56.7 grams for hi

AN UNEMPLOYED 17-year-old could face jail after officers caught him with a big stash of cannabis.

The boy, from Dagenham, pleaded guilty at Barking Court to possessing 447 grams of the drug with intent to supply and to possessing another 56.7 grams for his own personal use.

He also pleaded guilty to being a passenger in a car he knew had been stolen.

Police carried out a search warrant at his home on September 30. On entering the house officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

The teenager was at home and when asked if he had drugs in the building, he said he did. He took the officers to a cupboard on the first floor where they found a large bag and two smaller bags of cannabis, drug paraphernalia and �210 cash.

He told police he was looking after the big bag of drugs for someone who had paid him �210. He said the smaller bags were for his own use.

Three weeks earlier the youth was caught sitting in the passenger seat of a Ford Ka that had been reported stolen earlier that day.

He later claimed he'd been walking down the street when his friend drove past in the vehicle, telling him to jump in, which he did. He says his friend then revealed he'd stolen the car.

Officers on patrol spotted the car and indicated they should pull over. The driver ignored them and drove off, leading police on a high-speed chase through a number of Dagenham streets.

The stolen car eventually took a corner too wide and crashed into another vehicle

Both of them jumped out and police managed to stop the defendant. He was arrested and charged.

The court heard the teenager has one previous conviction for possession of Class A drugs.

The case was adjourned for an all options report. Magistrates said they were not ruling out custody.