A champion bodybuilder was today behind bars after being caught conducting a drug deal in a supermarket car park.

Reigning Mr UK Patrick Warner had been hoping to defend his title this weekend, but yesterday the Bradford athlete was jailed for six months at Bradford Crown Court.

Prosecutor John Sleightholme described how Warner, 35, and two other men were arrested in April 1998. Police drugs squad officers swooped as hundreds of amphetamine tablets were being handed over in the car park of Morrisons' store in Mayo Avenue, Bradford.

Warner, who had no previous convictions for drugs offences, was seen to arrive in a Ford Fiesta being driven by 28-year-old Mark Morley and collect tablets from the boot of 49-year-old Stephen Almond's Volkswagen Golf.

During the police operation more than 860 tablets of the Class B drug were seized, with a street value of about £5,500.

When questioned by police, Warner, of Frimley Drive, Little Horton, claimed he owed Morley money and had helped to arrange the meeting with Almond, of Cross Lane, Salford, as a way of wiping out his debt.

Warner pleaded guilty to the charge of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Morley, of Lyme Chase, Killingbeck, Leeds, was jailed for 18 months after admitting possession of amphetamine with intent to supply. Almond was sentenced to ten months after pleading guilty to a similar drugs charge.

Warner's barrister Simon Batiste highlighted work he had done for charities, including sponsored lifts.

He said: "He is the UK body-building champion, Mr UK, and came second in the World Championships in New Zealand."

Passing sentence Judge Geoffrey Kamil said he noted Warner and Morley had been waiting for at least 18 months to know their fate and he described Warner as the "tail-end Charlie'' in the offence.

But he said they were still serious enough offences to merit custodial sentences.

Mr Warner was due to compete for his UK title at St George's Hall, Bradford on Saturday. A spokesman for the event said organisers had been told the champion was unable to attend as he was "going abroad for a few weeks".