A DRUG dealer has been jailed for three years after an unsuspecting good Samaritan found a “tin of mints”.

Simon Prescod appeared before Southampton Crown Court faced with two charges of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

On November 3 last year, the 40-year-old told a member of the public he had been attacked by two men with a machete.

Concerned for Prescod’s welfare, the man scooped him up from the streets of Southampton and put him in the back of his car.

They later flagged down an ambulance, with the paramedics rushing Prescod to hospital.

However, he had left his coat in the back of his rescuer’s car.

The man found “a tin of mints” in one of its pockets, the court heard.

This turned out to be 13 wraps of heroin and 13 wraps of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £260.

Prescod was arrested in hospital.

During an interview, he initially gave police a false name and then told them he had stolen the 26 wraps from a drug dealer’s hiding place in some woodland.

He said he hoped to make a £100 profit by selling them on to another drug dealer.

Prescod was released on bail but on December 18 was spotted by police “acting suspiciously” in Southampton.

Officers stopped and searched him to find a stash of 13 wraps of heroin and 16 wraps of crack cocaine – different sized, they were believed to be worth £300 in total.

During both incidents, police seized Prescod’s phones however found nothing “related to drug dealing in either”.

Originally from London,

He pleaded guilty to the charges against him and has been in custody since December 18. He is currently held at HMP High Down.

Defending, Chris Gaiger said how Prescod has had issues with drug addiction.

However, Judge Rowland deemed the crimes serious and last Thursday sentenced him to three years in prison.