A Melksham man has been jailed for two years and three months after he was caught dealing heroin.

Tobiah Rule turned to the drugs trade after his benefits were stopped at the start of the year and he needed to support his own use of other substances, a judge was told.

The 22-year-old and his half brother Ricardo Harding, 21, both fled from police when the car they were passengers in was stopped on the evening of Sunday, May 19.

Simon Goodman, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court yesterday how officers chased after them, and following brief struggles they were detained.

As they ran off Harding was seen to drop a package which was found to contain two quantities of cannabis.

Police searched their home address following their arrest, and in Harding's room a further 38 grams of cannabis was found along with 3.2 grams of white powder that contained cocaine and in Rule's they seized 20 grams of heroin.

Their mobile phones also showed they had been sending and receiving messages relating to the trade in drugs.

Rule, of Littlejohn Avenue, pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Harding, of Sangster Avenue, admitted two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply and one of possessing cocaine.

Marcus Davey, for Rule, said that when his Job Seekers' Allowance benefits stopped at the beginning of the year, he committed the offences to allow him to carry on his drug use.

Jailing Rule, Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "The pre-sentence report indicates that most of this heroin was destined for your friends and you were selling it for someone higher up the chain and you were selling it for yourself.

"Nevertheless it is so serious only custody can be justified.

"You are not a heroin addict so that does not provide you with any mitigation."

Harding received an eight-month jail term suspended for a year with a drug rehabilitation requirement and supervision.

The judge also made Proceeds of Crime Act orders finding Rule benefitted by £1,427 and must pay £820 in three months or face 28 days added to his sentence. Harding benefitted by £11,111.70p but only had £1 of realisable assets.