A HEROIN dealer from Aberystwyth and his “runner” have been jailed after police caught them red-handed.

Anthony Rice, 53, of The Laurels, St Davids Road, and Mathew Rayment, 46, of Tegfan Flat, Monarch House, Tregaron, admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Swansea Crown Court heard how police stopped Rayment on January 21 as he drove his car away from Aberystwyth.

They found 21 packets of the drug containing a total of 3.4grams of heroin at 25% purity and with a street value of £431.

Rayment told police he had been to The Laurels.

Carina Hughes, prosecuting, said he confessed to being an addict and said he would have sold most of the drugs and given the money to Rice in return for a little of the heroin for himself.

“He was a runner for Rice,” she added.

Police went to The Laurels and found drugs and paraphernalia strewn around a bedroom.

The discoveries included a total of 55 grams of heroin divided into two blocks worth £5,580 on the streets and £865 in cash.

The court heard that Rice had previous convictions for 62 offences, including one for dealing in cannabis.

Judge Paul Thomas said both men had known that if they were caught it could only mean lengthy prison sentences.

Rice, he said, had been “further up” the chain of supply and he was jailed for three years and two months.

Rayment was jailed for two years and four months.

The £865 found in Rice’s wallet was confiscated.