A DRUG dealer who failed to turn up for his probation meeting before sentencing has been remanded in custody.

Trystan Marshall, of Westbury House, Tidworth, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Thursday after admitting to possession with intent to supply a class B drug at an earlier hearing.

The 23-year-old was due to be sentenced at the hearing but he accused the Probation Service of failing to contact him.

Marshall was discovered to be supplying cannabis to around 100 people on March 10 after officers from Wiltshire Police carried out a warrant at the home of his former co-defendant, Martin Babey, at Westbury House, on March 10.

Officers found cannabis, along with various items for using and selling the drug including a grinder, set of scales and £300.

The court heard that Marshall works full time and if he escaped a prison sentence he would be fit enough for unpaid work.

Judge Keith Cutler was told that Marshall had no previous convictions for supplying but had one for possessing cannabis.

Judge Cutler said he was "not satisfied" with Marshall's failure to turn up for his meeting but Marshall tried to protest his innocence making remarks about the Probation Service from the dock.

Marshall was offered a meeting an interview with the Probation Service on September 19 but he failed to turn up after a letter was sent to his address.

Staff at the Probation Service then tried to contact Marshall on a number of occasions but received an engaged tone for the number he supplied.

Judge Cutler deemed that Marshall should have contacted the service and was remanded in custody until sentencing on November 11.