A North-East man who acted as a minder for a drugs gang was jailed for four years yesterday.

Teesside Crown Court heard that John Angel was responsible for looking after a stash of drugs with an estimated street value of £15,000.

The 21-year-old, of Pentland Avenue, Billingham had previously pleaded not guilty to four charges of possession with intent to supply ecstasy, cannabis and amphetamines but was convicted by a jury.

At a sentencing hearing yesterday, the court heard that when police raided an address on September 28 last year they discovered 903 ecstasy tablets under a hedge and a stash of amphetamines.

Cannabis resin was also discovered in Angel's car.

Defending, Catherine Fagan asked Judge Peter Armstrong to take into account the defendant's age and the fact he was not a main player.

She said: "John Angel is not a man who was clearly at the controlling end of the drugs. His involvement was to drive people about.

"John Angel's part in this was short. He did not lead a lifestyle making money from drugs."

The court heard that Angel's arrest had torn his family apart but his parents, who are separated, were supporting him.

His mother had written a 'compelling' letter to the court in respect of her son.

Judge Armstrong said: "These were a substantial amount of drugs that were found.

"At trial you said you knew nothing about these at all but there was evidence to link you with them.

"You were a minder of these drugs in order to repay a debt."

Angel was sentenced to four years for possession with intent to supply ecstasy, 12 months for amphetamines and two years each for two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis, the sentences to run concurrently.