A drug addict has been jailed for three years after he was caught supplying cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Brian Warrington, of Poplar Avenue, Gravesend, admitted three offences of offering to supply Class A drugs in March.

On March 13, an undercover officer met Warrington in Gloucester Road and bought a single wrap of cocaine for £20.

The following day, again in the same place, Warrington sold two wraps of cocaine for £80.

The final meeting, again in Gloucester Road on March 22, he purchased three wraps of cocaine for £80.

Forensic tests later revealed the contents contained paracetemol.

Christopher Sutton-Mattocks, defending, told Maidstone Crown Court: “We are talking about very small quantities. This is a man who has a considerable problem in respect of drugs.”

Judge Martin Joy told 24-year-old Warrington: “The fact is, those who deal in Class A drugs involve themselves in extremely serious criminal offences.

“The taking of drugs is a scourge on individuals and society. It is a filthy and degrading habit”.

DC Chis Weatherstone said: ‘This investigation involved an officer working undercover to get to the heart of a drug dealing network in Gravesham. While the quantities might have been small, disrupting this network can only be a good thing as we look to keep drugs off our streets.

The judge said the maximum sentence available to the court was seven years imprisonment.

Warrington was given six months for breaching a suspended sentence and three months for breach of a restraining order, both concurrent to the three years for the drugs offences.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Chis Weatherstone of Kent Police, said: "This investigation involved an officer working undercover to get to the heart of a local drug dealing network in Gravesham.

"Whilst the quantities of Class A drugs might have been small, disrupting this network can only be a good thing as we look to keep drugs off our streets.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and Kent Police will continue to take action to identify and target such dealers, disrupting their activity and bringing them to justice."