A SNIFFER dog which discovered hundreds of pounds worth of drugs hidden behind the petrol cap of a car helped send a dealer to jail for two-and-a-half years.

The cocaine and ecstasy tablets were hidden in a cigarette packet at the top of the fuel tank of John Lainton's red Rover when it was stopped by police last November.

The 41-year-old driver initially owned up to having about £100 of cocaine in his pocket when he was pulled over by drugs squad officers in Charles Street, Redcar.

Father-of-one Lainton said the powder was for himself and denied he was a dealer, but the drugs dog was quick to prove him a liar, a court heard today.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield told Teesside Crown Court that the cigarette packet contained a further three bags of cocaine worth £300 and 134 ecstasy tablets worth £402.

Lainton's room at The Royal Hotel in Loftus, east Cleveland, was then searched by officers and they found a plastic bag and bowl containing traces of cocaine.

Mr Hadfield said two mobile telephones were also investigated, and experts discovered several recent text messages from people asking for drugs from Lainton.

In interview, Lainton admitted that the drugs found in his pocket were his, but said the cigarette packet must have been left there by someone who borrowed his car.

Peter Sabiston, mitigating, said Lainton now accepted he was a dealer, but only supplied to a small circle of friends to help pay for his own addiction, and not for profit.

He added that Lainton's life took a downward turn after splitting up from his partner, but he has since beaten his drug addiction, is back in the relationship, and the couple have a nine-week-old son.

Lainton, of Pennard Green, Middlesbrough, admitted two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply - cocaine and ecstasy - on November 24.

Judge George Moorhouse told him: "You know yourself that people who dabble in drugs, at whatever level, are committing a very serious offence - an offence so serious as to justify lengthy custodial terms.

"You should be congratulated for freeing yourself from your habit - long may it continue - and hopefully when you come out of prison, you can return to your partner and start a new life."