A DRUG user who kept an £8,000 stash of heroin and mephedrone belonging to his dealer was jailed for two years.

Kyle Rudge, 23, kept the 40 grams of heroin worth £5,000 for a man he declined to name for fear of repercussions, a court heard yesterday [September 6].

And Rudge thought the 239 grams of mephedrone worth around £5,000 that he kept for him was cocaine, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

His barrister, Simon Goodman, said he would feel "ashamed" of being described as a drug dealer though he admitted possessing heroin and mephedrone with intent to supply.

The Newport man also pleaded guilty to one count of cannabis possession.

Jailing him for a total of two years for the three offences, Judge Philip Richards said: "You were aware that the person who was asking you to keep that was a drug dealer.

"In fact they supplied you drug. Maybe you were not aware it was heroin but you were prepared to do his bidding and you did it as well for financial gain, which is the basis on which I sentence you."

Police found the drugs during a warrant at an address in Monnow Way, Bettws, on July 21 this year, Crown prosecutor Simon Goodman told the court.

They also recovered a knife, digital scales and £80 in cash, the court heard.

Mr Goodman told the court: "He hadn't realised the significance of what he was doing."

Rudge received 20 months for possession of heroin with intent to supply, another two months for possession of mephedrone with intent to supply and two months for cannabis possession, totalling two years.

Judge Richards said he would have to serve half his sentence before he is released and ordered him to pay a £100 surcharge within the next six months.