A SWINDON drugs runner who was stopped on the M5 with thousands of pounds worth of heroin and crack cocaine in his Ford Fiesta has been jailed.

At Gloucester Crown Court, Simon Simms, 39, of Luna Close, Oakhurst, pleaded guilty to possessing the Class A drugs with intent to supply.

The drugs were discovered by police in a brown bag in the glove compartment of his car on June 11 last year.

Prosecutor Janine Woods said: “West Mercia police stopped the defendant on the M5 in Worcestershire and they could smell cannabis so they searched the vehicle.

“They found 13 wraps of crack cocaine – 165 grams – in the glove compartment along with a pair of latex gloves.

“They also found 82.2 grams of heroin. The drugs found in the car had a street value between £12,000 and £24,000.

“The defendant’s home was then searched and a further 2.2 grams of cocaine were found.

“He told police that he got the drugs from a man in Birmingham and had been told to pick them up from Junction 1 on the M5 on his way back to Swindon.

“He has a lengthy list of previous convictions – 34 convictions for 185 offences, mainly for offences of dishonesty.”

Defending barrister Jane Rowley said: “My client played a lesser role in this and was a courier.

“He was a little naive and was unaware of the quantity or value of the drugs he was given.

“Although he is a heavily convicted man, this is his first drugs offence.”

Describing Simms as a trusted aide to a substantial Class A drugs supplier, Judge Jamie Tabor QC sentenced him to 20 months in prison.