A DRUG dealer who fled the country after being caught with a large amount of cannabis at a home in Tranent has been ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community.

Pawel Zieba, c/o HMP Edinburgh, was found with the Class B drug worth about £119,000 at the property on the town’s Edinburgh Road in 2015.

Following his arrest, Zieba fled to his homeland of Poland but he was extradited back to the UK to face the drug supply charge.

He pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month and was remanded in custody pending sentence.

Zieba was back in the dock on Monday, where he was ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community as punishment.

Sheriff Kenneth McGowan heard that Zieba had spent time in custody since his arrest, and sentenced him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work to be completed within four months.

Previously, the court heard that police spotted Zieba attend the address at Edinburgh Road in Tranent at about 5.20pm on May 7, 2015.

The officers entered the property and instantly noticed “there was a strong smell of cannabis” within the home.

The property was searched and the large haul of cannabis was discovered, with the court hearing the total amount found was 15.26kg.

The wholesale value was £56,000 but if the drug was split into smaller street deals then the total value would reach £119,000.

Co-accused Michal Sumlet, 26, had his not guilty plea accepted by the Crown.

Zieba admitted to being concerned in the supply of cannabis at Edinburgh Road, Tranent, on May 7, 2015.