A man who was stopped by police at 7am on his way to work at a local bacon factory, had a cocktail of illegal drugs with him, a court heard yesterday.

Terence Briggs, 29, of Borrowby Court, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, was jailed for three years at York Crown Court after admitting being in possession of 25 Ecstasy tablets, amphetamine and cannabis with intent to supply last December, worth a total of £483.

Prosecutor Alan Mitcheson said Briggs was a passenger in a car which was stopped by police, near Malton Bacon Factory, at 7am, and was one of five men arrested.

The accused was on his way to work at the factory and, when police were searching him, a packet containing the Ecstasy, cannabis and amphetamine fell to the floor.

Mr Mitcheson said Briggs told police: "It's a regret. I set out to do someone a favour and end up in this mess."

John Purcell, for Briggs, claimed he had been given money to buy the drugs by someone else. He was about to drop them off when the car was stopped. The drugs were for recreational use over the Christmas period.

He said Briggs had since lost his job at the bacon factory.

Jailing Briggs, Recorder Roger Keen QC said: "You were not a regular drug dealer, but you used your contacts and took a risk to obtain drugs with money given to you by another person.

"People who get involved in the supply of class A drugs have to go to prison.