A STREET dealer was caught with drugs three times in a month despite being arrested and bailed on the first two occasions.

Even being held in a police cell and interviewed by officers did not deter Luke Frost from selling class A drugs, Derby Crown Court heard.

The 20-year-old, of Abbey Street, Derby, has been given four years in a young offenders' institution.

His lawyer, Sonal Ahya, told the court he was selling drugs to pay a debt of £3,000.

Vee Monro, prosecuting, said that £130 of heroin and £130 in cash was found on Frost after he was arrested on September 29 last year in Salisbury Street, Derby.

Police also found a mobile phone that belonged to him in a car parked near by, which had "a lot of activity going on", said Miss Monro.

Frost told police he dealt about £300 to £400 of heroin a day. He was then released on bail.

On October 12, Frost was stopped by an officer in Bowyer Street and, when asked if he had anything on him, handed over a plastic bag containing 13 wraps of heroin – with a total street value of about £200.

He was arrested and answered "no comment" in interview.

He was then released on bail.

On October 20, an officer saw Frost throw a cigarette packet on the ground as he approached him in Normanton Road.

The court heard that inside the packet was heroin and cocaine.

Frost also had £293 in cash on him.

He was arrested and remanded into custody.

Miss Ahya said that some drugs had gone missing from a house where he had been staying and the finger had been pointed at him and he was told to make up the money.

The court heard that Frost had 11 previous convictions for 16 offences between 2006 and last year, although none of them were for drugs.

Frost admitted five charges of possession with intent to supply a class A drug and one offence of supplying class A drugs.