A drug-user has been jailed for possession of heroin with intent to supply.

Hamza Kerbouba, of Clapton, East London, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday to 18 months in a young offenders' institution.

He had been convicted at an earlier hearing of possessing nine grams of heroin with intent to supply it in Braintree on December 12 last year.

The 20-year-old had been considered for a drug treatment and testing order, but Judge Gareth Hawkesworth said a probation service report indicated he was not suitable.

"Possession of this quantity of heroin is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified," Judge Hawkesworth said.

After the hearing an Essex Police spokesman said Kerbouba was arrested and nine grams of heroin found concealed on him. This amounts to 90 street deals.

He said: "To anyone dealing drugs in Essex this makes clear exactly what the position of Essex Police is.

"This result mirrors the objectives we set ourselves in our recent new launch campaign to raise awareness of drug use, Crack Under Pressure."