A SOUTHAMPTON drug dealer caught with a wrap of heroin in his mouth was “under pressure” from a network of dealers from Liverpool, a court heard.

Clive Bratcher was spotted by officers carrying out street deals in the long-stay car park near his home in Union Road, moments before he was ordered to spit out a package of drugs from his mouth.

The 49-year-old, who has dozens of previous convictions for dishonesty offences and had been jailed for a previous drug dealing offence, told officers “something might happen” to him if the “Scousers” found out he had been caught.

Southampton Crown Court heard Bratcher, who pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply, was originally spotted making a deal by police.

Prosecutor Dawn Hyland said: “He returned back to his home and five minutes later was seen going to the same spot where a different person was.

“He put the drugs in his mouth and officers then ran to him to search him.

“They ordered for him to spit the drugs out of his mouth.”

She told the court that more than £5,000 worth of drugs had been seized from his house.

But Bratcher said he was only aware of around £100 worth that was in his bedroom on September 14, 2016.

Miss Hyland added that Bratcher told officers he was aware his actions were against the law but was told to make the deals for other drug dealers and in return would get substances to fund his own habit.

In 2008, Bratcher was sent to prison for four years for similar charges.

Mitigating, Graham Gilbert said Bratcher had sought support for his addiction from his family and “was remorseful for the position he has put himself in.”

Bratcher was sentenced to three years imprisonment.