A DRUG dealer caught when police raided his home confessed he had been supplying addicts with heroin worth £300 a day for six months, Worcester Crown Court heard. Tony James travelled from Hereford to Gloucester every other day to buy consignments of drugs.

He used some himself to feed a £150 a day heroin habit and the rest he sold on, said Nicolas Cartwright, prosecuting.

James, aged 25, of Whitecross Road, Hereford, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying heroin, possession with intent to supply, possession of cannabis and driving without insurance. He was jailed for three years 10 months after Judge David Matthews revoked a community rehabilitation order The sentence included four months for obstructing police and another count of heroin possession.

The judge said he had kept the penalty below four years - which would have automatically made him a long-term prisoner - because of his frankness with police about his activities.

He added: "You played your part in dealing in a drug which causes untold misery."

When officers raided his home on October 30 they found James and three other men dividing up heroin with a street value of £960, said Mr Cartwright. James had two heroin wraps in his underpants and another man had 15 wraps of crack cocaine.

The defendant said he was spending £60 a week on petrol collecting drug supplies. He had previous police cautions for heroin possession.

Simon Phillips, defending, said he was "brutally honest" with police. Despite the long period of dealing, he drove an old car and did not have a luxurious lifestyle. Mr Phillips said while in custody on remand he had come to his senses and was drug free.