A DRUG dealer who was given a chance by a judge was caught driving while disqualified while on a suspended sentence.

And Mark Roberts, who was brought to court in custody after failing to turn up for earlier hearings, also did just one of his 150 hours of unpaid work imposed on him.

Now the 45-year-old has been jailed for a year after judge was told he had both failed to turn up for probation and committed new offences.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the vehicle was stopped on Great Western Way on Wednesday, September 14.

He said when the driver was spoken to it was found to be Roberts, who was banned from the road and so did not have insurance.

Mr Meeke said in October 2015 he was put on a two year sentence, suspended for 24 months, for possessing drugs with intent to supply.

He said police had gone to his Broad Street home to execute a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"As they arrived at the front door so items go whizzing out of the upstairs window which are a series of heroin and crack cocaine, which were the defendant's," he said.

Police recovered about 300 wraps of the drugs but the defendant had also swallowed a further 20 or 30 deals, mainly of heroin.

The seized drugs were worth about £5,000 and his mobile phone was found to contain numerous messages relating to his dealing.

Roberts admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance and also failing to surrender to court last year.

He also admitted breaching the suspended sentence for the second time, having had extra hours of unpaid work added last April.

Mike Jeary, defending, said although he was an addict he has managed to hold down a job at the same time to fund it.

He said that after work he was at home with a friend who wanted cigarettes at 1am and made the foolish decision to drive.

Mr Jeary said he was on a methadone prescription and is hoping to get off drugs by the end of the year.

Roberts has never held a full licence and was disqualified for a year in 2004, but it remained in force until he has taken an extended test, he said.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "You have been sent up to this court because you were made subject to a suspended sentence in October 2015.

"Since that order was put in place you have shown a marked disregard for any obligations that are imposed on you by the authorities.

"So looking at matters collectively now I have to sentence you for driving while disqualified, no insurance, having no MoT and failing to surrender.

"I also have to deal with you for breaching this suspended sentence, which was a long suspended sentence: for the maximum period of time."

He said he was shortening the sentence to reflect the progress he had made and also imposed a new three-year driving ban.