A man caught trying to steal a jacket from B&Q, in Hall Road, Norwich, was found to have cocaine with a street value of more than £1,000 hidden in his car, a court heard.

Duane Gray, 26, tried to steal a jacket worth £49.99 and when arrested in B&Q's car park was found to have the drugs worth £1,076 in his car.

Kevin Eastwick prosecuting, said police also found cannabis which was for his personal use.

Mr Eastwick said Gray claimed to have gone off the rails after his father died, spending all his money, including the £3,000 he inherited, on drugs and alcohol.

Gray claimed he was selling the drugs to pay off a drugs debt to a dealer.

Gray, of The Splashes caravan park, Swaffham, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, theft of the jacket on April 14 last year and possession of cannabis.

John Farmer, for Gray said: 'He was not a very professional dealer.'

He said knowing he had the cocaine in his car it was not a good idea to get caught stealing a jacket.

Gray had put his time on remand to good use and was free of drugs, said Mr Farmer.

Jailing him for 18 months Recorder Louis Weston told him: 'You found yourself in debt to a drugs dealer, which you sought to work off by dealing for him.'

He said as someone who had an addiction he should know the problems drugs caused.