A MAN searched for drugs in the street confessed to police he had a stash of ecstasy tablets he was looking after for someone else.

Preston Crown Court was told at the home of Stanley Wilkins in Pall Mall, Chorley, 1,378 ecstasy tablets were found with a street value of between £4,200 and £7,000.

Wilkins, who had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying ecstasy, possession of ecstasy with intent to supply and possession of 9oz of cannabis resin for his own use was jailed for a total of three and a half years.

Nicholas Courtney, prosecuting, told the court Wilkins was stopped and searched in Chorley on October 4 last year. Cannabis resin was found and when his home was searched Wilkins admitted he had the ecstasy tablets.

He said the cannabis was for his own use and he was keeping the ecstasy tablets for an associate he refused to name, as he feared for his safety.

Ian Dacre, defending, said Wilkins, a divorced father of three, had been frank and had pleaded guilty.

Judge Robert Brown said the offences were so serious only custody could be justified. He sentenced Wilkins on the basis he was a custodian rather than the dealer.

"You knew the end destination of the ecstasy tablets - that they would be supplied to members of the public," said Judge Brown.