AN AUTISTIC drug dealer’s mum broke down in the witness stand as she told a Swindon judge her son was “not a bad lad”.

Now, her boy Daniel Brunt-Murphy has been jailed for two years and nine months.

The 25-year-old fashion salesman had been unmasked by police within weeks of starting to sell cocaine and ecstasy in Wiltshire.

When police raided his Chippenham home in June last year they discovered cocaine worth more than £5,000 and ecstasy with an estimated value of £1,700.

There was a substantial haul of class C drugs, including 450 Xanax tablets, and more than £26,000 in cash - £5,000 of which was admitted by Brunt-Murphy to be the proceed of his drug business.

Mum Tanya Brunt-Murphy, 52, told Swindon Crown Court that her son had struggled with mental health problems and sleep apnoea from an early age: “He’s not a bad lad. If he’d had some help it would never have come to this.

“He might look the business with the tattoos, but’s he’s desperate to fit in.”

Prosecuting, Sam Jones said police had seized a number of mobile phones: “What messages [on those phones] show is drug supply for commercial gain.” Other messages indicated Brunt-Murphy had a runner, “Dec”, and a close relationship with his ecstasy supplier.

The court heard Brunt-Murphy had been persuaded to deal drugs by unsavoury friends. Robin Shellard, defending, said: “He embarked upon this very short period of criminality in 2018. In naivety and stupidity that he’d make a lot of money and get away with it.”

Brunt-Murphy, of Lysley Close, Pewsham, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and ecstasy, possession of class C drugs and possession of criminal property.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Crabtree acknowledged the difficulties Brunt-Murphy had faced, saying it was surprising that a diagnosis of his mental health issues had not been made earlier.

However, he added: “Anyone involved in the supply of class A drugs is involved in a criminal enterprise that wrecks lives and undermines the fabric of society.”

Brunt-Murphy was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment. A proceeds of crime case will be brought by the Crown, clawing back the profits from his drug dealing.