A DRUG dealer locked up for more than two years over just three wraps of cocaine is a “good example” of the dangers of a cannabis use, a court heard.

Curt Allford, of Balmoral Road, Westcliff, was stopped in his Audi by officers from Operation Raptor in Clifftown Road, Southend, on July 19.

Basildon Crown Court heard police found three wraps of cocaine weighing less than one gram each in his pocket. The class A powder was 91 per cent pure with a street value of £80.

Carolyn Gardiner, prosecuting, said officers found 31 incoming text messages on his phone from the previous four days, with messages asking questions such as “are you about mate?” and pleading for drugs on credit.

The 28-year-old admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and was jailed for two years and four months by Judge John Lodge.

Nick Bonehill, mitigating, said Allford started dealing after getting into £30k of debt due to his own addiction, which started with cannabis.

He said: “The case is a good example to prove against those who say starting off with class B drugs doesn’t lead to anything worse.

“He’s not the average person that you might expect to find in this position. His family are clearly distressed at the position he finds himself in.”

Mr Bonehill said the former bar worker went through “two years of Hell” after the breakdown of a relationship and got deeper into drugs.

After building up a £30k debt, he felt the only way out was to start dealing for his suppliers.

He said: “Mr Allford found himself in that position because he had taken drugs from a number of people that had been on tick and the day came when he had to pay it back.

“He doesn’t seek to say that he was under someone’s control. He is a young man who accepts what he’s done is wrong and is willing to take the punishment.”

Judge Lodge told Allford a custodial sentence was “inevitable” but he gave him credit for his guilty plea.

He said: “It’s quite clear from everything that I have seen that you are not a foolish man. Anyone who gets involved in street dealing must receive a substantial custodial sentence.

“The only way of removing street dealers and getting the people higher up the chain is to pass deterrent sentences.”