A NEWPORT drug dealer is off city streets after police found almost £4,000 worth of heroin in his possession.

John Foran, aged 29, of Partridge Way, Duffryn, was locked up for more than three years on Friday.

He was charged with possession of a controlled drug Class A diamorphine (heroin) with intent to supply, and possession of controlled drug Class B cannabis with intent to supply.

He pleaded guilty to both counts at Newport Crown Court, John Warren, prosecuting, told the court that on February 7, Foran had got into a disagreement with a taxi driver which resulted in him being taken to the police station. On arriving at the police station, Foran left the taxi and left his phone along with small bags of powder and tablets in the back of the taxi.

Gwent Police then got a warrant to search his home in Duffryn and found two tupperware boxes containing 38 grams of heroin - with a street value of £3,880 - and 30 grams of cannabis, with a street value of between £200 and £230.

Mr Warren said: "The defendants' phone was analysed and the crown submits there were a number of incriminating text messages in relation to the supply of controlled drugs. The defendant in interview in a prepared statement said that the drugs were not his and that he was holding them in his custody for someone else."

The court heard that Foran has 71 previous convictions including possession with intent to supply a Class B drug in 2011 for which he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.

Claire Pickthall, defending, told the court that police had to wait 16 hours to interview Foran after his arrest on February 10 due to him being intoxicated from cocaine and heroin. Ms Pickthall said Foran had been using heroin since he was 17-years-old.

She told the court that he had been tempted into partaking in the supply of drugs to fund his habit.

Judge Daniel Williams said: “You are 29-years-old and have previous convictions aggravated by the fact you were convicted in 2011 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply. My sentence must reflect that aggravating factor. It must also reflect that there were two types of drugs."

Foran was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply heroin and 10 months imprisonment for possession with intent to supply cannabis, which will run concurrently. He was sentenced to a total of three years and four months in prison.