A DRUG dealer from Newtown was told by a judge he should have known better than to peddle "drug misery" in the town.

Heroin addict Mark Schofield was caught by police with a wrap of heroin, but he attempted to conceal seven further wraps of the Class A drug in his anus.

He was taken to Aberystwyth Hospital for a scan and despite refusing food he eventually “evacuated his bowels” the next day when the drug wraps were found.

In all he was found in possession of 9.93g of heroin as well as £145 cash.

Judge Niclas Parry told Schofield he had played a significant role in the supply of drugs in Newtown and sentenced him to four years and nine months in prison.

“Newtown is one of the worst areas of Wales affected by drugs. People are ill because of drug dependency,” the judge said.

“Crime is rife because it is committed to fund drugs. I don’t need to tell you as you have been there yourself. But despite the suffering you have sought to add to that misery.”

Prosecuting barrister Simon Mintz said that Schofield was stopped by police officers acting on intelligence. He told them he had some drugs for personal use “behind his foreskin”.

He then feigned injury and put his hand in his underwear after trying to put a package in his mouth.

Schofield, 43, of Heol Rhedyn, Newtown admitted possessing diamorphine with intent to supply on August 2 this year.

Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim said Schofield’s best mitigation was his guilty plea.

“He has had an addiction to heroin for most of his adult life. He came out of prison and still had a drug debt,” said the barrister.

The judge ordered that Schofield’s cash was confiscated.