TWO men have admitted drug offences after being arrested during police raids.

Joshua Murdy, 20, of Abels Road, Halstead, and Ryan Boreham, 20, of Elizabeth Way, Halstead, were both arrested at their home addresses on December 2.

Magistrates heard Murdy was found in possession of 13 bags of herbal cannabis after police carried out a search.

He told officers he sold a motorbike for £400 to buy 28 bags of cannabis, which he was selling to friends for £10 each.

Murdy admitted possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court also heard he was subject to a suspended sentence at the time of the offence, from Ipswich Crown Court for a previous offence of supplying class B drugs.

A pre-sentence report will be prepared before Murdy is sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in the week beginning January 6. He was released on unconditional bail.

Boreham, an unemployed roofer, admitted possession of a class B drug after he was found by police in his bedroom with 28.5 grams of cannabis.

Denise Amaning, mitigating, said: “He is an occasional user who does so in the company of friends. He used to work as a roofer, but two or three weeks before the offence he was laid off.

“He realises that while he uses cannabis occasionally, he will continue to come into contact with the court, so this is something he wants to stop doing.”

Boreham was given a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £145 costs.