A BUILDER found with drugs and £15,000 in cash at his partner's home has walked free from court.

A judge heard Barry Holden, 45, had amphetamine, cannabis and cannabis resin, as well as drugs "paraphernalia," when police raided the Accrington property in January.

The defendant, said to have got addicted to amphetamine when his doctor prescribed it for weight control, told police the drugs were for his personal use and the money was payment for jobs.

The court heard he could now lose his "life savings" as a confiscation hearing was planned to determine if any if the £15,000 was the proceeds of crime.

Holden, of Exchange Street, Accrington, was given 240 hours community punishment. He admitted possessing amphetamine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis.

Sentencing at Burnley Crown Court, Recorder Philip Butler said the defendant had been out of trouble for more than 20 years and was no longer taking drugs.

Jennifer Blewitt, prosecuting, said officers executing the search warrant found 9.81grammes of amphetamine, worth £78, and cannabis with a street value of more than £1,700.

Holden denied being involved in drugs supply and claimed the cash was from building work. He kept it at home because of low bank interest rates, he said.

Holden said he had kept records of jobs but when examined showed he had done work worth only £1,200. The cash also had a high amount of drugs residue on it.

Charles Brown, defending, said Holden had used cannabis as a relaxant after work. He was not a commercial drug dealer, had never sold drugs and never intended to supply for commercial gain. Holden had planned to supply some drugs to others he knew.