A teenage drug dealer spotted selling cocaine outside the County Ground Hotel has been jailed for two years.

Shend Ahmeti, 18, was seen by passing police after he left his room at a nearby guest house to meet the customer in the middle of the afternoon.

But despite Ahmeti having two previous convictions for being involved in the trade of hard drugs he avoided a mandatory seven year sentence because of the timing of the earlier maters.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that a police officer and PCSO were in County Road on Tuesday, November 11.

"They saw the defendant leave the Angelique Guest House, walk up towards the County Ground Hotel, and carry out what appeared to be a drug deal," he said.

"He was stopped for a search. He was found to have two sets of keys and a mobile phone and he was detained further while police officers went to his room in the guest house.

"A number of mobile phones, top up cards and paraphernalia for cutting and bagging up drugs were found, and a quantity of what appeared to be drugs.

"He was found to have £30 hidden in his underwear. His phone could not be interrogated but a number of sent text messages were recovered.

"One in particular indicated a street name that he was 'back in business', effectively. The drugs weighed 6.8 grams making 20 to 40 street deals depending on how they were packaged."

Ahmeti, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.

Mr Meeke said he was convicted of supplying heroin and crack in north London in May 2013 and had a later conviction for similar offences which took place earlier, He said 'by virtue of the timing', he escaped the mandatory minimum sentence.

Tony Bignall, defending, said his client’s father died when he was 14, which led to him getting involved in crime.

"He has a young sister of 14 who he says is quite embarrassed by his offending," said Mr Bignall.

"All her friends and exemplary people and she has a brother who is a delinquent.

"He seems to have gone off the rails rather badly."

Jailing him, Judge Peter Blair QC said: " I have read the presentence report that has been prepared and listened to what Mr Bignall said for you and I have read the very moving letter from your mother which has influenced me somewhat in what I am going to do today.

"You are 18, coming on 19 next month, and you have had the appalling disturbance in your life of not having a father figure an on of the most crucial stages of a young man's life and you have gone off the rails in a way which I suspect as an older man you will reflect on and be ashamed of.

"No doubt you have brought shame on your sister and your mum and inside I suspect you feel really bad for that.

"Next time the law says that somebody caught for possession with intent to supply class A drugs gets a minimum seven-year sentence.

"This really is quite exceptional course I am taking today. You would be an idiot if you don't accept there are people who live and want you to go straight."

As well as jailing him for two years he also made an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act saying he benefitted from offending by £973.38p but had to hand over the £673.38p found when he was arrested.