A drug dealer who was caught with thousands of pounds worth of heroin at a Wroughton pub has been jailed for four and a half years.

Mark Warne was bagging up the drugs for sale in a rented room at the Check Inn when staff became suspicious about what was going on.

And when they looked in the £60 a night bedroom they were astounded to find the haul of hard drugs and other paraphernalia.

They called the police and 28-year-old Warne and his girlfriend Katie Dukes, also 28, were arrested along with his teenage brother.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court the three rented the room at the pub close to the M4 on Wednesday September 12 last year.

But by the Friday the cleaner had not been allowed into the room and staff were suspicious about what was going on so they went in when the guests were out.

In one of the drawers they found what they believed were drugs so left them alone and called the police.

Officers attended and finding Dukes in the room asked her if there was anything there, and she pointed to the drawer.

In total police found 52.75 grams of heroin with a street value of £2,620. Miss Marlow said there was one golf ball sized lumps, two walnut sized and 27 individual wraps.

At first Warne denied any knowledge of the drugs but later accepted they were for him and his girlfriend, who both had serious heroin habits.

He added that he was also going to sell a quantity of the drugs in order to help fund their addictions.

Warne, of Willington Road, Redhouse, admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and Dukes, of the same address, to possession of heroin.

His brother 18-year-old Martin Randall, of Balham, London, had also been charged with possession with intent to supply but the prosecution offered no evidence after reading a psychologist's report which had been compiled on the 18-year-old.

The court heard Warne had a previous conviction for being involved in the importation of cocaine and received a four year jail term in 2003.

Rob Ross, for Warne, said his client accepted he was facing a lengthy jail term for what he had done.

He said his client had won £8,000 gambling and used much of the money to buy drugs for him and his girlfriend.

Although much of it was for their own use he planned to sell about 35 grams to help fund their ongoing habits.

Ian Halliday, for Dukes, said his client had been addicted to heroin on and off for ten years but had no previous convictions and had held down jobs.

He said she admitted having possession of some of the drugs for her own personal use.

Jailing Warne Recorder Jeremy Wright told him "You were clearly going to supply that not only to your girlfriend but to others at a significant level."

He imposed a one year supervision order on Dukes with a six month drug rehabilitation order.