Man jailed for selling heroin and cocaine on the streets in Beeston in order to pay off his mum's drug debts

Shane Thompson was jailed was 32 months after police arrested him after finding him in possession of the drugs in Beeston.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers became suspicious when they saw Thompson with two other men at the junction of Burton Avenue and Longroyd Avenue on February 2 last year.

Joseph Bell, prosecuting, said Thompson was seen taking items out of a small container he was holding and handing them to the men in exchange for cash.

The officers shouted at Thompson and he tried to run away.

The 24-year-old fell during the chase and was handcuffed by the officers.

The container was found to contain 26 wraps of cocaine and 18 wraps of heroin.

The defendant was also in possession of £35 in cash.

Thompson was interviewed about the incident and denied any offending.

He claimed he had found the container in the street.

The officers managed to trace one of the men who had been in the street with Thompson.

The man admitted meeting the defendant to buy drugs.

Chloe Hudson, mitigating, said Thompson has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Ms Hudson said Thompson's mother was a heavy drug user but he did not use drugs.

The barrister said Thompson turned to selling drugs on the street in order to settle a debt his mother had built up with drug dealers.

Ms Hudson said Thompson was a single parent who worked hard to support his young son.

Judge Penelope Belcher told Thompson the offending was too serious to imposing anything but an immediate custodial sentence.