A DRUG dealer caught dishing out crack cocaine within days of arriving in the UK is liable to be deported, a court heard.

Romanian national Illie Stefan, 27, had come to live in Bolton in early November last year, Preston Crown Court was told.

And on November 9, police pulled over a Vauxhall Vectra he was driving, after officers witnessed a suspected drugs deal involving the vehicle.

Prosecutor Beth Pilling said when police then searched Stefan, they found he was carrying £160 in cash. A further check of the Vectra unearthed £80, in a console.

She added: “Officers suspected that he possessed drugs and detained him and took him into custody.”

The court heard that while Stefan was being taken to a custody suite he produced a bag of white powder, which later turned out to be around 18 grams of crack cocaine.

Ms Pilling said the cocaine, which had a street value of around £880, had been broken down deals in 44 snap bags.

Police also recovered two mobile phones from Stefan. One could not be unlocked and examined.

But a gold Samsung device contained messages which appeared to be postcodes where the defendant was being dispatched.

The court was told that the car was registered to another man, who the police had not been able to trace.

Ms Pilling said it was the prosecution’s contention that Stefan, who had only one non-drugs related conviction in Italy from 2015, had played a ‘significant role’ as he was effectively street dealing.

But it was accepted he was acting under direction after considering the evidence of the defendant being given postcodes of where he should operate, she added.

Stefan, of no fixed address but last living in Bolton, pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for 33 months.

Richard English, defending, said his client, who was originally from Romania, had seen his wife go to live in Belgium, where she had secured work as a fruit picker.

“It is a shame that the defendant did not remain with her and work alongside her,” he added.

Mr English said Stefan only came to the UK in November so he had only been dealing “for a short period of time”.

He told the court Stefan had been working for others “further up the chain”, who had profited from his work.

The defendant had been able to send £100 back to Romania, to his family, added Mr English.

“He is sorry for what he has done and wishes, through me, to apologise,” he told the court.

Stefan had found life difficult, while in custody, as he was separated from his family and did not speak English.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Medland QC said that Stefan, as a result of his conviction, would be liable for deportation at the conclusion of his sentence.