A teenager who was involved in drug dealing has been put on probation for 12 months.

Kevin Edwards admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and ketamine after police found messages on his phone.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court how police went to Edwards’ home on January 14 on an unrelated matter.

They seized the 17-year-old’s phone and messages were found implicating him in the supply of the two class ’B’ drugs.

Messages were found saying: ’Do you want smoke?’ and talking about multiple bags and potential profits.

Threatening messages to Edwards were found regarding his inability to sell ketamine.

A probation report said that defendant had undiagnosed learning difficulties and was a ’highly vulnerable young person’.

The report said that Edwards appeared to have been used by unscrupulous other parties and that he had not grasped the seriousness of being involved in the supply of drugs.

Edwards, of Nursery Avenue, Onchan, told probation officers that he was not directly involved in the sales but directed customers to where they could buy the drugs.

He said that on some occasions he was given cannabis for doing this.

The probation report concluded that Edwards would ’benefit from a high level of supervision’.

Defence advocate Deborah Myerscough said: ’Sometimes people, if they are quiet at school, are missed as to what they really do need.

’Mr Edwards can’t function well in the adult world if he doesn’t get some assistance. He is not particularly streetwise. He doesn’t understand that doing favours for others can get him into court.

’If he gets lots of support from probation, the chances of him coming back before the court reduce significantly.’

Magistrates agreed to put Edwards on probation for 12 months with no order for prosecution costs made.