A drug dealer has been warned he faces a long jail sentence after he was caught with cocaine and the dance drug NRG2 in his car.

Wayne Atherton, 22, started using drugs to cope with his parents breaking up and went on to supply a circle of friends, Exeter Crown Court was told last week.

He was caught when his car was stopped by police in Okehampton and they found different supplies of cocaine, cannabis and NRG2.

Atherton, of Maceys Terrace, Okehampton, admitted possession with intent to supply and his case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Barry Cotter, QC, warned him that guidelines lay down a starting point for his sentence of around four years and that custody is inevitable.

He said: 'This is a case where there must be an immediate custodial sentence under the guidelines. He is going to get a substantial sentence.

'His car was searched and the cocaine, NRG2 and cannabis were found and he accepts distributing them to friends over a period of time and that he had drugs paraphernalia.

'It must be a significant role and that gives a sentence of around four and a half years. I cannot see what a report from the probation service will do to alter that approach.

'However, somewhat against my better judgment I am going to adjourn for a report because an objective assessment of your circumstances may have a potential effect on the length of the sentence. There can be no doubt it will be a custodial sentence.'

Nick Bradley, defending, asked for the report and said it would cast light on the changes Atherton has made to his life since his arrest.

He said: 'He has a report from a chemist showing he is now drug-free. He is only 22 and has taken significant steps in relation to his behaviour.

'It seems the domestic circumstances at the time of the offences may also be relevant. He was under a great deal of anxiety and stress because of the breakdown of his parents' marriage.

'It may have led him to act in the way he did and with various other things in his life may have led to him taking drugs and becoming involved with them.'

Atherton was bailed and will be sentenced next month.