A PIZZA restaurant worker was jailed for nine months yesterday after admitting buying cocaine to share with friends.

Yavuz Cakiroglu was in possession of six wraps of white powder when police searched him in Darlington in February.

Yesterday, Cakiroglu, 34, of The Meadowings, Yarm, appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply it.

Judge David Bryant, jailing Cakiroglu for nine months, told him: "The fact remains that anybody who involves themselves in the supply of class A drugs at whatever level can expect to go to prison."

The court had been told that when Cakiroglu was interviewed by police he fully admitted that the drugs were both for his use and for the use of friends.

Greg Purcell, for Cakiroglu, said he had been introduced to drugs in December last year and started using them socially. He would buy the drug on behalf of himself and a group of four friends.

Cakiroglu did not understand the full implications of having supplied the friends he went out with.

Mr Purcell said Cakiroglu had found work at a pizza restaurant and had set up a market stall in Darlington selling children's toys.