A FORMER Marlborough fireman who turned to dealing super strength cocaine to fund his own drug addiction has been given a two-year suspended jail term, after a judge said he was mystified how the former firefighter had spiralled into a life of crime.

Benjamin Collins was found with thousands of pounds worth of the hard drug as well a vast amount of cannabis when police raided his home in Baylie Acre last August.

He was found to have 60.7 grams of cocaine at 95 per cent purity, way above the strength used on the street, which could have a value of more than £6,000, and about 700 grams of cannabis, worth about £7,000 if sold in small street deals.

Officers also seized his mobile phone which was littered with messages which showed he had been dealing drugs.

Collins, now of Cherry Orchard, Marlborough, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.

Peter Binder, defending, said that his client had become an addict and started selling the class A drug to fund his own use, which could see him spend £2,000 a week on drugs.

He said Collins, a firefighter's son, had always wanted to join up and served in Marlborough.

In 2012, though, he hurt his back when he fell from a ladder at a fire which left him off work for a long time and needing an operation. He was later suspended from the service during a lengthy investigation into a 'sexist prank' before an inquiry cleared him of any wrongdoing.

During that time he spent a lot of time in pubs and became a drug addict. He has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and needs help for his mental health

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said "People would come to you to buy their drugs rather than you going out in the streets to sell them.

"That means of course you were dealing in rather greater quantities than if you were on the streets.

"You are 33, have no convictions and for many years it seems you led a decent and stable life. You lost your job, you turned to drugs.

"Quite how you made that change seems a bit of a mystery to me. I hear what Mr Binder says.

"Once you made that choice your life spiralled downwards.

"I suspect when you look back on the past four or five years you have got very little to be proud of. Maybe getting caught had helped you and brought you to your senses. I hope that is right."

He imposed a two-year jail term suspended for 24 months with 250 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.