A SCHOOLBOY drug dealer caught selling cannabis in Dursley has had his unpaid work punishment reduced today because of illness.

At Gloucester Crown Court the number of hours that Stephen Randlesome, 18, will have to work free for the community was cut from 100 hours to 80 by Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC.

In August Randlesome, of Victoria Drive, Eastington, admitted possessing 25 Ecstasy tablets and having over £1,200 worth of cannabis in a bag with intent to supply.

He received a 12 months' community order with three months' drug rehabilitation and 100 hours' unpaid work.

Today Randlesome appeared before the court for a review of his progress on the order and said: "The unpaid work has been a bit of a struggle."

Otherwise, he said, he was 'slowly getting there'.

Recorder Vere-Hodge said the probation service had given him a report recommending the number of hours be reduced.

"You have been unwell, which is a reasonable excuse," said the Recorder.

Reducing the hours to 80, he said that should mean Randlesome being able to complete the work by Christmas.

Randlesome was instructed to return to court for a further review on November 10.

When Randlesome was sentenced in August the court was told police were called to Dursley because of concerns about young people smoking cannabis behind the old ambulance station.

When police got there they found Randlesome with two teenage girls. There was a strong smell of cannabis in the air.

Randlesome tried to stop police taking a bag which an officer had found nearby and in it was found four 1oz bags of cannabis with a street value of £1,210 and 25 Ecstasy tablets.

Sarah Fear, defending, said Randlesome had been supplying 'friends, associates and peers'.