A MAN who admitted possessing more than 60 Ecstasy tablets to supply to friends on a night out was jailed for four years yesterday.

Paul John Collins, 26, of Jubilee Road, Shildon, admitted being in possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, possession of a class A drug and driving while disqualified, at Teesside Crown Court.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court that Collins had been stopped by police in St Andrews Road, Spennymoor, on February 18.

A check revealed he was driving despite being banned for 12 months in May last year.

Mr Dryden said that when Collins was asked to turn out his pockets, officers found one tablet of Ecstasy and £45 in cash.

He was then strip searched and a further 66 Ecstasy tablets, with a street value of £335, were found in his trousers.

Mr Dryden said Collins told police he had bought the drugs in Spennymoor for himself and his friends to take on a night out at Tall Trees, in Yarm.

He said that later a Group Four security officer found £240 hidden under the insole of Collins' shoe, which he said was to pay a drug debt.

Jamie Hill, for Collins, said his client had previously been convicted for a minor role in a conspiracy to supply heroin, but was not a drug dealer and was a not a commercial Ecstasy supplier.

He said: "He was a reckless young man who was prepared to take the risk which others in his group were not prepared to take."

Sentencing him to four years in prison, Judge Peter Fox said Collins had supplied Ecstasy tablets to friends on a "number of occasions".

Collins was also banned from driving for two years for driving while disqualified