A DRUGS dealer from Newcastle Emlyn has been warned to expect a jail sentence after a jury convicted him of possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Steffan Owen, aged 52, had denied the charge but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Swansea crown court.

Tom Scrapens, prosecuting, told how three plain clothes detectives stopped Owen in Priory Street, Cardigan, on December 17 last year.

They suspected he was carrying drugs and soon found quantities of buphrenorphine, and diazepam.

But they were looking for heroin and took Owen, of 1 Castle Green, Pentrecagel, to Cardigan police station where he was strip searched.

Owen was than taken to Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth, where an x-ray revealed “a solid package” in his anus.

Owen was kept in Aberystwyth police station where the following day nature took its course.

Owen produced a bag containing eight wraps of heroin.

Mr Scrapens said it was significant that four amounts of heroin were wrapped in blue plastic and three larger quantities were wrapped in clear plastic.

He told the jury this was to enable Owen to know what he was dealing in at the point of sale.

Owen claimed he was a heavy user of heroin and that the 1.03 grams found on him would have lasted him about five weeks.

Owen admitted possessing all three drugs but had denied dealing in heroin.

He was convicted unanimously.

Owen will be sentenced at Newport crown court on October 25.

Judge Hughes granted Owen bail meanwhile but warned him that a custodial sentence was the most likely outcome.

Meanwhile, a probation officer will prepare a report into his background.