A DRUG dealer involved in peddling heroin across the town has been jailed for 20 months.

Andrew Bloxsome was twice caught with the drugs four months apart when he was stopped by the police.

Judge Douglas Field told the 27-year-old he had been given a chance six years ago after admitting a similar matter, and he had to jail him.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Bloxsome was first stopped in his car on Monday June 21, 2010.

Officers found one wrap containing brown powder and he also had £180 in cash.

When officers looked on the grass verge adjacent to the passenger-side window, they found a further 13 similar wraps.

Bloxsome told officers he had bought 15 wraps for £110 and they were all for his own use.

He was stopped again by the drugs squad on Friday, October 8, 2010, and they found a plastic bag containing heroin.

He had 22 individual wraps, which had a street value of £220, and told officers he had been an addict for 12 years.

Bloxsome, of Severn Avenue, Haydon Wick, admitted two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

The court heard he had a history of crime and was put on a drug treatment order in 2006 after he admitted supplying drugs when he was caught in a covert police operation.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client was dealing on behalf of another man, who was prosecuted and put on a community order at an earlier hearing.

He said the amount of heroin seized from Bloxsome when he was arrested was ‘quite low’, as he was dealing in it to subsidise his own habit.

Since the offences in 2010, he said his client had not been in any further trouble with the police and is now drug free.

He said he has qualifications to work in the telecommunications industry as a fibre optics engineer. Mr Ross urged the court to allow him to remain in the community to continue his rehabilitation.

Jailing Bloxsome, Judge Douglas Field said: “You are coming up to 28 years of age and have pleaded guilty to two offences of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

“On May 5, 2006, at this court you were sentenced for an identical offence. The court on that occasion gave you a chance.

“In June 2010 you appear to be a drug addict again and were caught by the police with 15 wraps of heroin.

“Having been caught by the police on that occasion, in October you do the same thing, this time with 22 wraps. These circumstances are such that I am not prepared to not pass an immediate custodial sentence.”