A pair of drug pushers who had designer clothes stashed in their home have been jailed for two-and-a-half years each.

Addicts Sarah Scott, 34, and Kyle Menham, 21, fell into the illegal trade after getting into debt with their dealers.

The couple are the latest to be snared in a large scale undercover police operation that saw officers pose as addicts and hit Swindon’s streets last year in order to make test purchases of heroin and crack cocaine.

Swindon Crown Court heard on Friday the pair were snapped handing over wraps of class A drugs to an undercover officer named in court only as “Arthur” last November and December.

The officer bought heroin or crack cocaine from the “Sarah” line on nine separate occasions. The weights of the deals varied between 0.06g to 0.2g.

When police raided a house in Penhill where Scott had been staying they found a large haul of designer goods, including clothing by top brands like Moncler and Canada Goose.

Neither defendant answered detectives’ questions when they were interviewed earlier this year.

Scott, of Ramsbury Avenue, Penhill, and Menham, of Thornbridge Avenue, Park South, admitted supplying class A drugs.

Sophie Chaplin, for Scott, said the woman and her boyfriend had got into a drugs debt. “There were some threats made towards her and her daughter.” They dealt in order to clear the debt.

They had picked up the drugs every morning from a house. They had to return with the proceeds at the end of the day.

The dealers provided Scott and Menham with drugs for their own use and paid for her fuel.

Ms Chaplin said some of the valuables seized in the police raid belonged to Scott’s family members.

Having been addicted to class A drugs her client was aware of the harm caused by the substances, the barrister said. She was remorseful.

Tony Bignall, for Menham, said his client had also been addicted to drugs and still young enough to make a fresh start upon being released from prison. He was realistic about the likely outcome of the hearing: “He will have time to reflect on how foolish he has been.”

Jailing the couple for 30 months each, Recorder Paul Garlick QC said: “I don’t need to explain to you the seriousness of the offences. You are both well aware of this.”

He accepted the pair had resorted to selling drugs in order to satisfy their own addictions and to pay off debts. But the judge added: “That can never be an excuse and this is still a very serious matter.”