A drug dealer who used cannabis and cocaine to ease his suffering from a painful skin condition was spared jail.

Christopher Smith, 27, was told by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court that his health was one of the "absolutely striking" factors which enabled him to impose a suspended sentence.

He was also "commended" by Recorder Jason Dunn-Shaw for keeping his illicit stash away from children.

Smith, of Blackridge, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells, admitted possessing cocaine and possessing cannabis, both with intent to supply, after police found the drugs in a garden shed in January.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said there were four 1g bags of herbal cannabis and a bag containing 14 wraps of cocaine.

Smith was staying with friends at the time and said after his arrest that he stored the drugs in the shed so they were out of the way of the couple's children.

He also openly told police he had bought about 30 wraps 'on tick' and was selling them for £45 each.

Mr Wright said the cocaine was about 24% purity - "consistent with street-dealing," he added.

The court heard Smith suffers from psoriasis, a condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

Caroline Harris, defending, said the stress of his arrest and court proceedings had caused a particularly bad flare-up, which was visible on his head as he sat in the dock.

But she added that he was sorry and had taken full responsibility for his offending.

Imposing 18 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, the recorder told Smith: "Normally you would go to prison for these offences. The matters in your favour are absolutely striking in combination.

"You started using cannabis to help ease the pain of your extremely painful and extensive psoriasis.

"You took cocaine to give yourself more self-confidence which had been eroded by your psoriasis.

"You kept your drugs well away from children who might find them and that is highly commendable, and you were clear in your police interview and made admissions that you bought more drugs and sold them on."

As part of his sentence, Smith must undertake a drug rehabilitation requirement for six months and be supervised by probation for 12 months.