A 21-year-old drug addict has been jailed for two years for possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Michael Cifra, of Britton Street, Gillingham, admitted the offence and another of possessing cannabis when he appeared before Medway magistrates on March 21. They sent him to Maidstone Crown Court for sentence.

Alexia Zimbler, prosecuting, said that just after noon on March 21 a police patrol was sent to stop a car in Whiffen Avenue, Chatham, after an automatic number plate recognition camera had been activated.

Cifra was a passenger in the car. He was searched and police officers found eight wraps of heroin, two needles, a wrap of cannabis, home-made crack pipe and mobile phone.

He was arrested and the mobile phone analysed. It contained two messages which suggested dealing in heroin, Miss Zimbler said.

She said Cifra had a previous conviction for burglary and a caution for shoplifting.

Edmund Fowler, defending, said Cifra had been addicted to class A drugs for five years.

“He became ill after his arrest because of withdrawal and is now on a reducing methadone treatment,” Mr Fowler said.

“He recognises he has been in the grip of this drug use for too long. If he does not go through detoxification he will be dead soon.”

Mr Fowler said Cifra’s parents supported him and after his detoxification they would keep him away from drugs.

Judge Martin Joy told Cifra that class A drugs were terrible and led to a filthy and degrading habit.

“Those who deal and supply them to others commit an extremely serious offence,” he told Cifra.