A Sulby teenager has been jailed for two years and nine months for a string of offences, including supplying ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis.

Thomas Daniel Richards, of Ballabrooie Estate, pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, as well as two counts of possessing class B drugs with intent to supply.

Richards, who turned 19 yesterday (Monday), also admitted a string of driving offences, including driving while unfit, two counts of driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, criminal damage and a public order offence.

The teenager was said to have committed 14 offences in a seven week period and had never held a driving licence or passed a theory test.

A probation report said that Richards first used cannabis when he was just nine and a doctor’s report said that he had ’suffered significant neglect during his childhood.’

Prosecutor Mark Benson told the court how, on March 31 at 9.33pm, Richards was seen driving by police, despite being disqualified.

Police tried to stop him but he reversed to drive around them, hitting another vehicle in the process, before driving off.

He was later found in Sulby without the car, which was located abandoned with damage at Glen Auldyn.

Richards was arrested and a search found bags of white powder and cannabis hidden in the cheeks of his buttocks.

The drugs found in his possession were 15.2 grams of cannabis and 2.44 grams of cocaine.

Police found a further 2.04 grams of cocaine, 49.8 grams of cannabis, 0.41 grams of ecstasy and 26 ecstasy tablets at Richards’ house.

In court, Richards entered a basis of plea saying he had only supplied drugs to friends when asked.

On May 21 police were called to Ramsey after a report of a man bleeding from his arm. A witness told police he saw Richards enter the Schooner bar and punch a man before leaving. Door staff at the bar reported escorting Richards out then seeing him elbow a window at Tracey Bell’s clinic, smashing the glass. Another incident occurred on June 4 when Richards’ car was found abandoned in Laxey after hitting a hedge.

Defending the teenager in court advocate Jane Gray said her client suffered mental health problems and was a ’vulnerable individual’.

Deemster Alistair Montgomerie told Richards: ’You indicated in your letter to me you don’t want to throw your life away going in and out of prison. You are going to receive the necessary support while you are in prison and on your release. It’s up to you what you want to make out of you life.’