Police officers became suspicious when they saw an apparent drug deal taking place in a car in Batley and when they checked the driver found he had both crack cocaine and heroin on offer.

Leeds Crown Court heard the plain clothes officers had seen another vehicle pull up behind Rashid Mamaniat’s car and the driver from that get into his back seat.

After what looked like a deal they stopped and searched Mamaniat who told them: “It’s just a one off, I owed someone some money and had to do it.”

He said he was paying off a £500 drug debt and would get some cocaine for himself.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, told the court Mamaniat had 19 wraps of heroin with a street value of £124.50 and 21 wraps of crack cocaine worth around £191. He also had two wraps of high purity cocaine which he said was his.

He admitted he had been supplying a few days. He would be stocked up with drugs and when he finished selling them would contact the dealer and be restocked. He said he got £50 knocked of his debt each time he did that.

Anastasis Tassou, representing Mamaniat, said he had been extremely honest with the police. He had been “within the grip of a Class A drug addiction for 10 years” but had maintained that by lawful means.

However he then got into a debt and was put under pressure to clear it. He had now sought help for his addiction and a jail sentence would impact hard on his young family.

Mamaniat, 31, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, was jailed for 30 months after admitted possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, supplying class A drugs and possessing cocaine.

Recorder James Adkin told him only custody was appropriate for such drug dealing involving class A drugs.