SEND me to prison.

That was the shock request from a reformed drug addict who claimed he was desperate to turn his back on his life of crime.

Benjamin McEwan, 23, pictured, was arrested in a police raid in Thornhill and found with £320 of heroin.

Officers stormed into the Hinkler Road home to arrest someone else but they found McEwan in the living room surrounded by used syringes, cigarette papers and weighing scales.

Large bundles of cash and drugs belonging to others were also found in the house.

Prosecutor Keely Harvey said that when officers burst in they told McEwan to keep his hands on show but saw him shove his hands into his underwear.

They then searched him and found 16 wraps of heroin.

He claimed he was planning to take some and sell the rest because he was jobless and homeless.

Defence barrister David Reid said McEwan had turned his life around and come off the drugs.

Southampton Crown Court was told he found it hard to be around other addicts when they were getting methadone treatment.

For this reason he said his best chance of coming off drugs for good was to be behind bars.

He said: “He has made substantial strides in the last nine months to sort out help for his drug problem.”

McEwan just wanted to sort his life out and set a good example to his 17-year-old brother, he added.

Tests and reports from drug councillors confirmed his efforts.

Arrested on September 23 last year, McEwan had pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.

He was sentenced to two years.

Judge John Beashel praised his efforts.

He said: “Heroin has been responsible for years of your life being blighted.

“You have done a great deal over the last nine months to wean yourself off drugs. You are doing extremely well and earnestly approaching your goal.”