A DRUGS runner who was part of a plot to traffick high-purity cocaine into the North-East has been jailed for four years.

Jason Singleton was the go-between for gangs in Middlesbrough and on Merseyside and Humberside, a court heard yesterday.

The 40-year-old delivered two kilos of cocaine worth £84,000 which was destined for Teesside at a meeting in Leeds last October.

Two days later, he was stopped by police in Humberside with 1.32kg of amphetamine inside a pillowcase in his Vauxhall Insignia.

Singleton, from Retford, Nottinghamshire, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

His barrister, Christopher Knox, told Teesside Crown Court: "This man was the courier. He was the man who took the risks.

"This defendant isn't saying he didn't know what he was doing, but he was very much under the direction of another."

The court heard that Singleton suffers nightmares after a cell mate committed suicide when he was in jail years ago.

Since his arrest and remand in custody, his post-traumatic stress disorder has worsened, Mr Knox told Judge Peter Armstrong.

The judge told Singleton, of Maun Close, Retford: "I am satisfied that your role as a courier is a significant one.

"You have considerable personal mitigation because of the traumatic incident that occurred at the prison.

"I hope you will receive the appropriate treatment while you are serving the custodial sentence I have to pass."