A FORMER landlord who had a reputation for clearing pubs of violent customers was jailed for two years yesterday for possession of drugs.

Eugene Daly, 38, was caught at his home in Shakespeare Avenue, Grangetown, with £3,000-worth of amphetamines sulphate and £535 in cash from drug sales.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Daly had gained a reputation for cleaning up pubs where violence reigned. He had successfully built up two pubs on Teesside and one in West Yorkshire, but he was forced to give up the trade because of arthritis in his knees and his hands.

The court heard that Daly was arrested when police forced their way into his home and caught him with four packets of drugs in a carrier bag.

He ran into the garden and threw the bag over the fence into his neighbour's garden.

Robert Terry, prosecuting, said police recovered it and they found 331 grammes of amphetamine sulphate. There was also a rock of amphetamines and the cash on his bedside cabinet.

Daly, who had no previous drug convictions, made no reply when he was interviewed.

Peter Walsh, in mitigation for Daly, said his client had turned to drug dealing to support his family.

But after a successful operation on one knee and another planned, Daly hoped to make a return to either the pub trade or steel erecting.

Mr Walsh told the court: "He has spent four months in custody.

"All he wants to do is to get out with two good knees, two good hands and the ability to obtain a legitimate occupation."

But Judge George Moorhouse told Daly: "You lost your work all through your arthritic knees and you turned to crime. I am afraid it does not entitle you to resort to drugs."

Daly was jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamines sulphate with intent to supply it on March 11.

The judge ordered that the cash should go to Cleveland Police's fight against drug crime.