A vulnerable teenager who was sucked into dealing drugs was described by a judge as "easy meat for utterly ruthless people".

Jodice O'Sullivan, 18, was given a chance to keep out of trouble when he received a three year Community Order.

Prosecutor Margeret Mascherenas told St Albans Crown Court O'Sullivan arrived on a push bike to deliver two wraps of cocaine to an undercover police officer, who had been speaking to a contact.

Two months later he was seen in Queens Square, Hemel Hempstead, which, the prosecutor said was a "drug dealing area". He was searched and was found to have ten wraps of heroin and 12 of cocaine. Scales were found at his home.

O'Sullivan, of Lavender Crescent, St Albans,  pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine on July 12 last year and supplying heroin and cocaine on September 23 last year.

Defence barrister Richard Storey said O'Sullivan was a vulnerable teenager who had been "sucked into drug dealing".  He handed the judge a letter from his mother.

Mr Storey said O'Sullivan had ADHD and Asperger's. He was supported by social workers and needed "structured intervention," he said.

Judge John Plumstead said: "He is easy meat for utterly ruthless people who make money from drug dealing." 

He passed the Community Order with a condition that he attends an 18 month programme with one to one counselling and 15 days' Education, Employment and Training.

He told him: "You must stop behaving like this. If you don't, somebody will send you to prison."