WILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A TEENAGER offered a bulk-buy deal on ecstasy pills told police the deal was too good to pass up. Police officers out patrolling in a north Wiltshire town busted a street drug-deal when they saw goods being passed between two men.

Searching a 16-year-old youth, officers found a total of 40 ecstasy pills, which the teenager told them he bought for just £50.

Appearing before magistrates at Trowbridge Youth Court on Friday, the 16-year-old Calne youth, who cannot be

Youth Court on Friday, the 16-year-old Calne youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted possessing a Class A drug.

The teenager also admitted a second charge of possessing cannabis which police found in a raid on his home.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, said the teenager was stopped on November 5 when officers on patrol in Calne spotted a drug deal taking place. Mr Welling said: "The teenager was in the company of another man and the police thought they had seen him swap things and that it looked like a drug deal.

"He was arrested but seemed more concerned about whether or not he would be able to go to a party in Bristol."

When interviewed by police the 16-year-old confessed he paid £50 for 40 tablets a deal he was unable to resist.

Mr Welling said the street value of the tablets were anything up to £5 each and were worth up to £10 if sold in a nightclub.

Police issued a warrant to search the youngster's home where a small quantity of cannabis was found.

Defence solicitor Michael Wells said the teenager, who has no previous convictions, was only intending to buy six tablets for his own personal use.

Mr Wells said the teenager was unable to resist the opportunity to buy tablets on the cheap but had never been planning to supply them to others.

He said: "It is a good thing he has been caught because he was just about to get into the wrong sort of lifestyle.

"He wanted to buy six and he would have taken most or all of those himself.

"The dealer said he could do 40 for £50 and it was too good a deal to resist.

"When he was searched he had them with him in a bag. He hadn't even opened the bag when the police stopped him.

"He has consistently said that he wasn't going to deal them to anyone else."

The youth, whose father accompanied his son to court, apologised for his actions and said that he had brought an end to his drug-taking habit.

Magistrates handed him an eight-month referral order and ordered him to pay £60 costs. A confiscation order for the drugs was also issued at the hearing.