AN Eastleigh man who supplied an undercover police officer in a sting operation with £20 worth of cocaine, must undertake a mental health requirement for 12 months as part of a suspended sentence order.

Recorder Alistair Malcolm QC read psychiatric and probation reports on Terry Gibson, 38, of Shakespeare Road, before giving him a 16-month suspended sentence coupled with 18 months supervision.

The judge said he was taking the step in the best interests of the defendant and the community after reading the difficulties he had suffered in his early life.