A DEVIZES man said to be frightened of men after being a victim of child abuse narrowly escaped being sent to prison at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday.

Instead, 36-year-old Paul Rainbird, described as a link in the chain of drug administration, was given a suspended jail sentence.

Recorder Jonothon Gaisman, QC, told Rainbird that his "morbid and serious fear of men" was one of the reasons he felt able to take an exceptional course.

Earlier, defending counsel Tim Hills had said: "To lock him up in a prison in close proximity to rough males would be a living hell."

He said his vulnerability was something the court could take note of.

"His case is exceptional because of what happened to him as a child."

Rainbird, of Mayenne Place, Devizes, had been sent to the crown court for sentence by magistrates at Devizes in June after he admitted possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply and also possessing cannabis resin.

Robert Horner, prosecuting, told the court police went to Rainbird's home on April 16 with a search warrant. They found cannabis resin valued at £4,700 together with scales and £170 in money.

He told police he had been persuaded by others to take the drugs and pass them on to another.

His payment, for what the judge called "being used as a warehouse", was to have been a small quantity of cannabis for himself.

Mr Hills said Rainbird, a drugs user, had been told he was under an obligation and he felt he had to do it.

Mental health nurse Helene Webb said Rainbird was considered a high suicide risk. She said he was subjected to abuse as a child, saying: "Mr Rainbird's background is in my view horrifying."

She said he had significantly cut down his use of drugs and wants to end his addiction.

"If he loses his liberty I would put him at a high risk of suicide," the nurse told the court.

Announcing a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years for possessing drugs with intent to supply, Recorder Gaisman said three factors were involved in his decision the offence was at the lower end of the scale; his fear of men would be exacerbated in prison and the suicide risk.

Rainbird was also fined £50 for the offence of possessing the drug with £117 costs.