A DRUG dealer with a string of convictions is finally behind bars after being caught several times by police.

It was the third time David Collier had been found in possession of drugs with an intent to supply, meaning he could only be sentenced to a stretch inside prison.

The 44-year-old was driving on Forster Road when police pulled him and a passenger over.

Prosecutor Richard Griffiths told Southampton Crown Court that when he was searched, 11 wraps of heroin and 10 wraps of crack cocaine, along with £150 in cash, was seized.

He said: “The defendant was known to police for being involved with the supply of class A drugs.

“He initially tried to delay coming out of the car but when asked about the drugs he admitted being in possession of them.”

The court heard Collier had committed 54 previous offences. This was his third conviction of possession with intent to supply, including a breach of an 18-month suspended sentence given to him by the court for a similar offence.

A “third strike” of this offence normally means a minimum seven years’ imprisonment.

However, in mitigating, Berenice Mulvanny argued that the rule was there “for significant drug dealers”.

She said: “It would be unjust to sentence him to that long as he was a low level dealer, it was funding his own habit and it was only £210 worth of class As he was caught with.

“A third strike sentence must be a deterrent to stop other people but this is for those in a significant role. Collier did not do this because he was trying to make a financial gain.”

Judge Gary Burrell QC agreed but said that if Collier did not stop taking drugs he “will end up killing” himself.

Collier, of Forster Road, Bevois, pleaded guilty and was jailed for three and a half years.