A SMALL time drug dealer described as a “boy playing a man’s game” was spared jail despite being found behind the wheel of a £42,000 stolen BMW while on bail.

Reece Penn, 20, of Balmoral Road, Southend, had been arrested for selling small amounts of cocaine and cannabis and broke down in tears when officers wrongly told him a cutting agent he thought was fertiliser was actually heroin.

Yet despite believing he faced a lengthy spell in prison as a result, Penn drove a car that had been stolen from Marine Parade, Leigh.

When he was stopped by police on February 16, Penn was still on bail for the drugs offences, which dated back to December and January.

The charges, which he later admitted, included possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis, possession of amphetamine and two charges of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine.

Police also initially charged him with being involved in the supply of heroin- despite tests showing the powder was in fact fertiliser.

Matthew Bone, mitigating, said the charge had a “dramatic effect” on the former factory worker who “began to cry” when officers told him.

Penn was later charged with handling stolen goods in relation to the car,, which he admitted.

Mr Bone said: “He was somewhat naïve. From the texts, there were a number of people asking to be ticked and asking to test the drugs.

“He got himself into debt through his own drug habit. He started to sell to support that habit and was being tested as a new dealer.”

He said Penn knew the car was stolen, but had been asked to take it to Tilbury.

Judge Samantha Leigh said: “You are a boy playing a man’s game in relation to drugs. You know that now.

“It’s clear that the main area you were dealing in was cannabis. I am going to give you a chance.

“But I promise you this- if you mess this up and breach this order you will come back to me and you will be given three-and-a-half-years inside.”

Penn was handed a three-year community order and must complete 200 hours of community service and 60 hours of rehabilitation.

His co-defendant on the car charges, Connor Annereau, did not show up for sentencing and a warrant was issued.