Drug dealing is still rife in the Worcester-Hereford area despite courts imposing heavier sentences as a deterrent, says a judge.

A Birmingham man, who claimed he was making no money out of dealing but just paying off a debt, was jailed for three years at Worcester Crown Court.

And Judge Robert Juckes QC said there were too many stories from men arrested with drugs and who made out they were acting for third parties and not getting the cash.

He was commenting on a case where police had been keeping watch on two known drug users in Ledbury town centre. A car pulled up and a transaction took place, said Walter Bealby, prosecuting.

When the car was stopped later, passenger Lewis Cummings was discovered with 21g of cocaine and 6.7 g of heroin. There was also £470 in cash, which was seized by the officers.

Cummings, aged 23, of West Avenue, Handsworth Wood, pleaded guilty to having the drugs with intent to supply.

His barrister, Alexander West, said he had been picked up and taken for the ride into the country because he was £1,000 in debt and was anxious to pay back the money. As he had lost his job, he had volunteered to be a drugs runner and make some money.

Mr West said that although Cummings had several previous convictions, there was a year's gap in offending which he was in steady employment.

He was been using cannabis since he was 13 years of age.

Cummings had tried to fool police and hid several mobile phones in the car when they were stopped. The judge said was concerned about the level of drug dealing in the area despite courts passing longer sentences.