A heroin courier has been jailed for three years for operating a drugs run from Leeds to York.

Police initially stopped Stephen Paul Crake, 20, for driving under the influence of the drug on Holgate Road, York, late on April 5, said Ian Gilmore, prosecuting.

In his underpants they found a golfball sized lump containing 26.6g of 53 per cent purity heroin.

Released on bail, he breached his curfew within a day and was again caught red-handed with drugs.

He was on probation for stealing to fund his own drug habit at the time.

Crake, formerly living at the YWCA, Water Lane, York, pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply, possessing heroin and three charges of possessing cannabis.

"Heroin is a dangerous drug and when taken regularly and to excess then leads to death," said Recorder David Ake.

"That is the effect of the part which you played in this chain of events. Who knows what the eventual consequences might have been?"

He jailed Crake for three years.

Defence barrister Tom Storey said Crake had brought heroin from Leeds to York for a certain person for two or three weeks. He had not intended to sell it himself on the streets.

Mr Gilmore said police stopped Crake because he was "driving erratically". He was unable to stand up, his speech was slurred and his movements unco-ordinated.

A doctor later diagnosed him as being under the influence of drugs and Crake told police he had taken a bag of heroin at 4pm.

They found the golfball of heroin in his pants, two mobile phones in his car and aluminium foil, cannabis bush and resin at his home.

He was released on bail, but breached his curfew the same day.

On his re-arrest, police found 1.87g of heroin and some cannabis concealed on him.

Mr Storey said Crake had himself telephoned the police to tell them where he was when he learnt they had visited his house while he was out buying crisps.

He had not bought drugs after his first arrest.

Remanded in custody after his second arrest, he had taken drug counselling in a bid to kick his habit.

He had first started taking the drug at 18 when he fell in with the wrong crowd.