Two Lowestoft men who set up a drug dealing business during the Covid pandemic have been given suspended prison sentences.

Sentencing drug dealers Levi Hilden and Amos Howarth, Recorder Richard Conley said they had made significant sums of money by selling friends and acquaintances "pretty much what they wanted" but accepted their business mainly involved cannabis and only a small amount of cocaine.

Hilden, 30, of High Street, Lowestoft, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.

Howarth, also 30, of High Street, Lowestoft, admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis and two offences of possessing criminal property.

They were each given a two year prison sentence suspended for two years, 100 hours unpaid work and a six month trail monitoring requirement when they appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday.

Also before the court was Tina Pope, 54, of High Street, Lowestoft who admitted possessing a small amount of cannabis worth £12 to £15.

She was given a six month conditional charge.

The court heard that Hilden and Howarth were stopped by police in Lowestoft High Street in an Audi A4 on May 19, 2021.

Greg Wedge, prosecuting, said Hilden had drugs, cash and an iPhone which contained messages consistent with being involved in drug dealing.

Howarth had drugs in his possession including 27g of cannabis buds worth more than £700 and 3.54g of cocaine as well as a phone which contained messages linked to drug dealing.

The men had been seen coming out of a house in the High Street and when police searched the premises they found further amounts of cocaine and cannabis.

Pope had been at the premises and was in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Jude Durr, for Hilden, said there had been a three year delay in the case coming to court for sentencing.

He said Hilden had worked in the building trade and found himself without work during the Covid pandemic and had been leading a hand to mouth existence.

He said he became involved in the offences out of naivety and immaturity.

Marc Brown, for Howarth, said his client had become involved in the supply of drugs to fund his own use of cannabis and cocaine which had spiralled out of control.

He was now a father and stepfather and was making a legitimate living and providing a stable life for his family.