A FATHER-OF-TWO has been jailed for nearly three years for drug dealing after being pulled over by police.

Michael Purkiss, who five years ago had been a restaurant manager, started off dealing to get out of debts caused by his own drug habit, a court heard.

But he was caught after police seized his phone and found evidence of dealing which led them on a trail to drugs and cash.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Purkiss, who was stopped by police in Southampton while driving on June 26 last year, was taken to Southampton Police Station.

Officers then found he was carrying £1,000 cash.

They seized his mobile phone and its contents prompted a search warrant executed at his Southampton home, where a further £2,000 cash was discovered, and his garage nearby, where police found three packages of drugs.

Purkiss claimed the money was a month’s takings from his tyre company and denied any involvement in drug dealing, but eventually accepted it was the proceeds of a deal.

Texts on his phone, which had 21 contacts, over a three month period showed he was involved in supplying both cocaine and cannabis.

Two of the packages found by police were cocaine with a low level purity of 10 per cent, and the other benzocaine, which was being used in the supply of the cocaine, the court heard.

Purkiss, 26, of Alder Road, Southampton, admitted being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and in the supply of a class B drug, possession with intent to supply a class A drug and two counts of possessing criminal property.

These offences started just months after Purkiss had been released from prison for causing grievous bodily harm and were while he was on licence.

The court heard that Purkiss had been in a well paid job at 21 having started in McDonald’s and worked his way up to management in five years.

But he got into a partying lifestyle and started taking drugs like ecstasy, speed and cocaine and ended up with a habit and still owed money when he was sent to prison for previous offences.

Mr Missouri said when sent to prison last time Purkiss still owed money for drugs.

Under pressure, when he came out and was unable to find work due to his criminal record and learning difficulties, he turned to drug dealing to pay off his debts, he said.

However, Mr Missouri said that this had not stopped once the debt was paid.

He said Purkiss, since being recalled to prison for these charges had placed himself on a drug awareness course, was sorry and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Recorder Howard Palmer sentenced Purkiss to 34 months in prison and ordered forfeiture of the drugs and money. “Drug dealing is a serious and horrible offence because as you know it leads people down to the road to ruin,” he said.