A TEEN tried to palm a suspected drugs line phone onto another as he spoke to police officers – all the while with £1,000-worth of class A drugs in his pants.

Vulnerable Lewis Morton was just 17 and already on bail for drug dealing when he was stopped by police leaving a house on Alanbrooke Crescent in September 2018.

Now, 18-year-old Morton has been jailed for 27 months by a Swindon Crown Court judge who branded the youngster’s history of compliance with court orders appalling.

Prosecuting, Tessa Hingston said police called to the Rodbourne Cheney house could hear a phone ringing on-and-off. They tried the front door without success.

Going to the side of the house, officers could smell cannabis. Morton came out a side gate with another and tried to run off. He failed – although the other man managed to get away.

Morton’s phone was constantly ringing as police spoke to him. The teen claimed it belonged to another – even stopping a bemused passer-by and trying to hand over the phone.

The ruse did not work and when Morton was strip searched at the police station police found a tightly-wrapped bundle of crack cocaine and heroin stashed in his underpants.

He had 78 wraps of crack cocaine and 22 wraps of heroin. A police drugs expert put the street value of the class As at £1,020.

Morton, who had been released under investigation at the time for similar matters, also had £140 in cash.

In a basis of plea, Morton said he had been paid to courier drugs and other items between dealers and addicts. He was a runner and played no part in the preparation of the drugs.

Despite his young age, Morton had already clocked up 10 convictions for 20 offences. Half were for drugs possession or supply.

Morton, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and possession of cannabis.

Emma Handslip, defending, raised concerns her client had been criminally exploited. He had twice been referred to the National Crime Agency by the Swindon youth offending team over fears he was a victim of modern slavery.

The NCA had not categorised him as a slavery victim. However, Ms Handslip said that did not mean there was no element of exploitation: “Clearly, there was.”

Her client was trying to turn a corner. He was in a relationship and had cut ties with old associates: “We are where we are but this is somebody who has been prosecuted for something he did 16 months ago as a youth in very specific circumstances.”

He had spent a couple of months in prison last summer, which had a salutary effect. He had matured and his engagement with the probation service had improved.

Sentencing Morton to 27 months in custody, Judge Jason Taylor QC said the overall picture painted by his record was a sad one and did not reflect well on his attitude or motivation. The offences were aggravated by Morton's previous drugs convictions, the fact he was on bail or had been released by police under investigation and was subject to a youth court order.

He had stern words for Morton’s friends, who had packed the public gallery, even stopping the court hearing at one point to upbraid one youngster for appearing to laugh. He told the wayward pal: “It’s not funny. If you think it’s funny you will go in the cells. Do you understand? You’re not helping your mate.”

Judge Taylor later told Morton his friends were “probably not as helpful as you think they are”.