A County Lines foot soldier working for a gang that promised “banging” crack and heroin has been jailed.

Terry Horwat asked the judge to put him behind bars so he could get help with addictions to booze and drugs. He said he had had the best night’s sleep of his life after being put on medication at the police station on Monday.

Judge Peter Crabtree obliged – locking him up for two-and-a-half years.

Horwat, 32, was yet another casualty of Op Jetway, Wiltshire Police’s five-month long sting that saw dozens of low-level dealers caught selling crack cocaine and heroin to undercover police officers posing as addicts.

Swindon Crown Court heard one of the officers, known only as ‘Steve’, had received a text message on the morning of June 19 last year advertising the wares of the Ramsey line.

It boasted: “In town with the best of both. Banging stuff. Call the new number.”

Steve called the number given and was directed to “the big tree” in St Mark’s Recreation ground in Gorse Hill. He joined a group of drug addicts.

Prosecuting, Beverley Da Costa said: “As time went on they were joined by further drug users.”

Horwat, described as white and in his 20s, approached the group. Steve handed over £20 and received two wraps of crack cocaine at 83 per cent and 90 per cent purity and a wrap of heroin at 57 per cent purity.

He was seen getting into a Vauxhall Vectra then tailed to a house on County Road.

Later that day another officer, called ‘Rob’, the rang the Ramsey line. Again, he was directed to St Marks Rec and joined a line of other addicts waiting for the dealer.

When Horwat arrived one of the users bridled: “You took your time.”

Rob bought three wraps of class A drugs for £20.

Horwat, of care of Franklin Acre, Marlborough, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to three counts of supplying class A drugs. He admitted failing to surrender to the court, having not turned up to an earlier crown court hearing

Ellen McAnaw, defending, said her client was a foot soldier paid to go out and supply drugs on behalf of others.

He had a long-standing mental health issues and addictions to drugs and alcohol, bingeing his way through several bottles of spirits a day.

Horwat had received benefits but it was not enough to cover the significant amount he was spending to satisfy his cravings, Ms McAnaw said. He sold drugs in order to fund his own addictions.

She added: “What he said is the time in custody has been helpful. He says it gives him structure. He wishes now to pursue treatment in custody.

“I am not instructed to apply for anything other than a custodial sentence.”

Jailing him for two years and six months, Judge Crabtree said: “Anyone who is involved in the supply of class A drugs is involved in criminality that wrecks lives and undermines the fabric of society.”