A 23-YEAR-old man who was “holding onto” 32 wraps of class A drugs for a street dealer has been jailed for two years.

Martin Stokes, of Kettlewell Drive, Little Horton, Bradford, admitted possessing just over 1 gram of heroin and 1.5 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.

Bradford Crown Court heard that it was accepted that Stokes was being paid a small amount to be “custodian” of the drugs and was not actually dealing them himself.

But Judge Jonathan Rose said his actions allowed the trade to continue inflicting misery upon people’s lives.

“It is in my view still an extremely serious offence to commit, because it is by finding those like you who are willing to hold on to drugs that the entire trade can continue.

“You were involved as a custodian because you were going to make money out of it - that’s making money through the dealing of drugs and the misery that it causes.”

Prosecutor Dave McKay told the court that Stokes was already serving a 31 months sentence for burglary and possessing a stun gun.

He said that Stokes was arrested by police on July 3 last year after they were called out to a disturbance by his ex-girlfriend.

They saw him on Edge End Road in Buttershaw and when he noticed the officers he dropped a package over the wall. That package contained 32 wraps of cocaine and heroin worth £165 and he also had £267 in cash on him.

Mr McKay added that Stokes pleaded guilty on the basis that he was simply the custodian of the drugs.

“The nature of these drugs and the way they were packaged up shows they were for street dealing,” he added.

Emma Downing for Stokes, said that he had agreed to hold on to the drugs for a small amount of money.

“He was handed them and was to return them when told to do so,” she said.

She added that an acrimonious break-up with his girlfriend of five years had prompted a sudden decline in Stokes’ mental health and that he also suffered from a number of health conditions that would make it more difficult for him to serve a prison sentence.

She added that he was already using his time in prison to gain qualifications and that he hoped to put this behind him.

An order was made for the drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.