A DRUG pusher who admitted pocketing £90,000 after making 9,000 deals in just for three months has been jailed for five years.

Scott William Marsh, 27, of Dene Drive, Winsford, told Chester Crown Court yesterday he had been selling bags of heroin and crack cocaine every day from October to December last year. He said the only day he had off was Christmas Day.

He was convicted of one charge of possessing a class A drug and six of supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to five years in custody.

Inspector Brian Roberts, of Vale Royal Police, praised the efforts of his officers in capturing Marsh. He said: 'This is a tremendous result - another piece of good teamwork between Winsford's Community Action Team officers and local CID.

'It sends a clear message that there's a price to pay dealing in heroin and crack cocaine.

'Hopefully, this will give some relief to the crimes that are committed as a result of people feeding their addictions to these drugs.'

Marsh was spotted by a plain-clothed officer coming out of an alleyway near Delamere Street. The officer noticed Marsh was holding something in his hand, which he believed to be wraps of heroin.

During 'surprisingly frank' interviews, Marsh freely admitted dealing about 100 bags every day since October. It was estimated in court Marsh had made about 9,000 deals in that time at an average of £10 per bag, netting him £90,000.

The court heard some days he could sell drugs worth £2,500. His own use cost £400 a day.

Defending, Anna Price said: 'He has been surprisingly frank, perhaps to his own detriment. It could never have been proven that he was dealing at the level he admitted.'

The court heard Marsh has been in regular employment but, although he is from a stable family background, no longer has contact with relatives. Marsh said he believed prison was his best hope of kicking his habit.

Judge Roger Dutton told Marsh: 'You took the deliberate choice to sell drugs for financial gain. The sad thing is I see you have told officers you have no plans to stop this behaviour.

'Peddling heroin and crack cocaine in towns, cities and villages will not be tolerated.'