A 36-year-old drug addict who allowed his home to be used as a base for drug dealing has been granted his wish to be sent to prison.

Gary Reed made efforts to beat his addiction and had not tested positive for drugs since last June, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

But his lawyer told a judge: "He would like to be sentenced to custody today."

Jailing him for two-and-a-half years, Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told Reed: "Your future is very much in your hands. If you stay free of drugs, as I hope, by the time you are released, you can start a new chapter in your life."

Dealer Grant Daley was jailed for five years in November after being caught with drugs at Reed’s then home in Fort Pitt Street, Chatham.

As police broke down the door, Daley, 21, of Stoke Newington, North London, tried to escape out of a window. A total of 15.5g of cocaine and 4.41g of heroin was seized.

He was convicted him of possessing drugs with intent to supply after denying the charge.

Reed admitted two charges of allowing his home to be used for supplying drugs on May 23 last year.

During the police raid, Reed, of Derwent Way, Rainham, was found in a bedroom with a woman. A large block of crack cocaine was discovered as Reed was brought out of the bedroom.

Daley said to Reed: "You had better tell them the truth, Gal. We had half and half. The brown were mine."

Danny Robinson, prosecuting, said Reed had been before the courts on a large number of occasions for many offences and had been given jail sentences.

Andrew Walklate, for Reed, said his client received drugs in exchange for turning a blind eye to what was going on at his flat.

"He has been an on-off user of drugs," he said. "This coincided with a relapse. He had been in and out of hostels and on the streets. He has now lost his council flat.

"His suffering is compounded by his own choice. He is a petty drug addict. He committed offences because of drugs."

Judge Patience said the best thing in Reed’s favour was that he had pleaded guilty. "Anyone who permits their premises to be used as a headquarters for drugs is committing a serious offence," he added.