A NEW FOREST man, who supplied an undercover police officer with heroin and crack cocaine, promised a judge he was committed to giving up drugs.

Robert Wilkinson, 40, walked into the dock with a walking stick after drug abuse had left him partially crippled.

Southampton Crown Court heard he had injected himself and was admitted to hospital with an infected artery.

Wilkinson, of Beaulieu Close, New Milton, admitted supplying the class A drugs and received a nine month drug rehabilitation requirement (DDR) coupled with 12 months supervision.

Judge Gary Burrell QC warned him he faced two years inside if he failed the DRR but hoped it was true when he said he was committed to giving up drugs.

Wilkinson replied: “It’s true, I guarantee it. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of proving it.”