A drug user caught with thousands of pounds worth of heroin said he was preyed upon by his dealer soon after he was released from prison as he still owed him money.

Paul Bruce, 27, was jailed for two years in September last year for possessing heroin with intent to supply.

But Bruce said he still owed his dealer for the 28 wraps of drugs which were seized by the police and the dealer came to see him after he was released to get his cash.

Tony Bignall, defending, told Swindon Crown Court the man then put pressure on to his client to store the heroin at his house and both men then went on to use the drugs. But Rachel Marshall, prosecuting, said the police had executed a search warrant at the flat in Ramsbury Avenue, Penhill, and found the £2,000 worth of heroin in a kitchen drawer.

She said they also found hundreds of pounds in cash, when his only income was benefits, as well as a set of scales. When questioned he at first denied any knowledge of the drugs.

But police found a forensic link between the defendant and the heroin.

Bruce, who told the court he was homeless, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Recorder Stephen Lennard adjourned the case to Friday November 27, to allow the probation service to compile a pre-sentence report and remanded him in custody.

Bruce was jailed last year after he was found with hundreds of pounds worth of heroin hidden on his person.

He was caught with the wraps of the drugs, which weighed about five grams, after he ran on to a bus when officers spotted him acting suspiciously.

After giving chase, the police saw him attempt to hide something, which they later recovered, along with £160 which he was also carrying.

When he was questioned he told police that he was acting under duress as he had previous drug problems and his dealer had beaten him up. He said he had to do jobs for him, including moving drugs as a courier, which is what he was doing when he was arrested.

But his representative told the court Bruce had bought the drugs with money his mum had left him to look after himself while she was away and was to supply them to friends.

Although he had planned to sell the drugs he said he did not have an opportunity before he was arrested.

He said the money he had was not from dealing but his unemployment benefit, which he had just cashed, and a withdrawal from his bank account.