A MAN found guilty of being a heroin dealer has been jailed for five years.Benjamin Smith, 48 was found in possession of 21 wraps of heroin worth more than £200 and claimed it was for his own use.

A MAN found guilty of being a heroin dealer has been jailed for five years.

Benjamin Smith, 48 was found in possession of 21 wraps of heroin worth more than £200 and claimed it was for his own use.

However a jury at Ipswich Crown Court disbelieved him and yesterday found him guilty of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Jailing Smith for five years, Judge Nicholas Beddard said heroin was "a terrible drug" and it was a serious offence to be involved in the supply of it.

He ordered Smith to forfeit £475 found in his possession and directed that the money should be given to the Suffolk Constabulary Drug Fund.

During the trial the court heard that Smith, who had been living at Harpers Hill, Nayland, was seen by police taking packages from his sock and hiding them in a car jack.

Smith, who admitted possessing the drugs, said he had been smoking heroin for six to eight weeks before his arrest and claimed the heroin found in his possession had been for his own use.