ANTHONY Belcher returned to using heroin after being thrown off a drug treatment and testing course, a court was told.

The 35-year-old was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of the drug which he was supplying to another man for a dealer.

But a judge adjourned sentencing him to allow the probation service to be questioned about why he was asked to leave the course.

Kirsty Real, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Belcher was arrested on Clive Parade on January 4 this year after being caught with the drugs. When he was questioned by police he told them that he had received a phone call that day asking him to deliver the five wraps to someone in exchange for a payment of half a gram of the drug.

Miss Real said that Belcher had been put on a drug treatment and testing order in August last year after breaching a probation imposed for three commercial burglaries he committed in the year 2000.

She added that he had a string of previous convictions including a two year jail term imposed in June 1998 for possessing 85 wraps of heroin with intent to supply.

Belcher, of Cricklade Road, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply, possession of heroin and possessing cannabis.

Marcus Davey, defending, said Belcher appeared to be doing well when he was thrown off the course in November last year.