A WOULD-BE investment banker found with a stash of cannabis and diazepam in his student house has “waved goodbye to a promising future”.

Police raided 23-year-old Mohammed Hassan’s house in Marston Road, Oxford, on June 28 last year and found 92.25 grams of cannabis with a street value of up to £525.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday David Bright, prosecuting, said officers also found four cannabis grinders, sealable bags, digital scales, £430 in cash and 21 diazepam tablets.

Hassan admitted possession of controlled Class B drugs and one charge of possession of Class C drugs in relation to the tablets.

Mr Bright said: “He was allowed to stay in these premises by another student. The paraphernalia was not his, but, however, the cannabis was and it was for personal use and it was part of a joint purchase with someone named Michael and cost £300.”

Alistair Grainger, defending, said of his client: “He did smoke cannabis and it appeared everybody in that house enjoyed the use of cannabis and that’s perhaps the pattern of student life today.

“It seems to be the attitude of young people that cannabis is a fun drug and doesn’t create difficulty for people.”

The court heard Hassan had graduated from Oxford Brookes with a 2:1 degree in accounting and finance and had secured a job offer from KPMG, which was likely to be withdrawn following his conviction.

Mr Grainger said he had “waved goodbye to what could be a very promising future” as an investment banker.

Hassan, now of Danemead Grove, Northolt, Middlesex, was fined £450 and ordered to pay £50 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge.