A HAIRDRESSER who bought thousands of pounds worth of cocaine for a party he was hosting has been spared jail.

Jethro Mansell went to London to get almost two ounces of the drug which he would have laid on for guests at the do.

As well as the cocaine, worth up to £2,500 police also found scales and small bags when they raided his flat.

But after hearing the 31-year-old say his 'dark secret' is out as a result of his arrest and he has managed to kick the habit, a judge put him on a suspended sentence.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court officers went to his home on Friday August 9, last year with a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Inside they found a package containing just over 50 grams of cocaine with a 15 per cent purity and three smaller, street deals, at 12 per cent purity weighing 2.36g.

They also recovered the scales and little self-seal bags, which are used for wrapping drugs, as well as £430 in cash.

Mr Meeke said the drugs could have fetched up to £2,500 if they were divided up into small street deals, but could have been bought wholesale for £1,000.

When he was arrested the defendant told the police he had bought the drugs ‘for all of us’.

Mr Meeke said: “He was interviewed and said he was planning a party and he got a couple of ounces of cocaine in for the party. It would be given to people.

“Some people would buy it and he would give a bit as required. He had bought it from a dealer in London for £1,000.

“It was the largest quantity he had ever bought.”

Mr Meeke said: “With that amount of cocaine it promised to be quite a party.”

Mansell, of Commercial Road, pleaded guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client was £5,000 in debt and had had a cocaine habit for some time.

“He has described, to probation and to me, as living a party lifestyle and using a lot of cocaine, sometimes one to two grams a day,” he said.

“He doesn’t realise how serious it was and what it is doing to him.

“He has not used cocaine since September.

He said the cocaine in bags was for his own use and it and the scales were so he could measure his own consumption.

Speaking from the dock Mansell said: “I really wish to convey how terrible the last five months have been for me.

“It has been a dark secret for me.

“I have made changes, my hairdressing clients, they had to know. They have been very supportive.

“It has been traumatic. I just want to move forward, get the support I need and put this behind me.”

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “I am impressed by the fact that you have been abstinent since this offence: that you have done that without any intervention from any agency.”

He imposed a two-year jail term suspended for 18 months and told him to do 150 hours of unpaid work and pay a £100 victim surcharge.