A 'CUCKOOING' drug dealer who took over the home of a vulnerable Westbury man to peddle his wares has been jailed for two years.

Cassius Hodson, 18, had been selling heroin and crack across the south west of England before being caught in the house earlier this summer.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court police went to the house on Phoenix Rise shortly before 11am on July 10.

He said the home had previously been taken over by out of town drug gangs and they were concerned it had happened again.

When they got there the door was answered by the occupant, who began shouting very loudly that the police had just missed the dealers.

"The police went in to the house and found this person in one of the bedrooms, on the pretence of having only just woken," he said.

When he was spoken to Hodson accepted he was in the town to sell hard drugs.

Officers found £845 in cash and 20 wraps of heroin, which has a street value of £200, when they searched him, as well as a dealer phone.

Mr Meeke said "He was based at this address to sell heroin, in what is commonly known as cuckooing, to sell heroin and crack cocaine to users.

"Money would be passed up the line and more drugs would come to him. He said he had been used by the gang. He had got into debt to them.

"He told police he was awaiting further deliveries so he could carry on his dealing. The money was to be passed back up the chain."

Hodson, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said he is an immature young man who has been in foster care since he was four years old.

"It is quite clear he has been groomed by an older man, who I am told by my client has now been returned to prison," he said.

"For the past 12 months plus he has been in Devon dealing and in Cornwall, from fear as much as to feed his drug addiction."

Jailing him, Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC said "You, I am quite clear, went in to this with your eyes wide open."