A "low-level" heroin dealer who was caught supplying the Class A drug in the centre of Belfast has been jailed.
When Daniel Valliday (33) was stopped and searched by police on December 12 last year, he was found with 35 wraps of heroin which he had concealed in his rectal area.
The father-of-one, from Rathkyle in Antrim, appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry, where he was sentenced for possessing heroin with intent to supply, and possessing Diazepam tablets.
As he imposed a 16-month sentence, which was divided equally between prison and licence, Judge Patrick Kinney said: "I accept that this defendant is at the bottom of a drug-dealing hierarchy.
"Nevertheless, he made Class A drugs available to others and was an essential part of the supply chain.
"His actions have fostered the circulation of serious drugs, with all the potential consequences for society that such circulation inevitably brings."
Valliday was arrested after officers observed him engaging in drug dealing in the city centre.
As well as 7.52 grams of heroin, officers found 14 Diazepam tablets in his pocket.
During interview, Valliday admitted he was a drug addict and had been supplying heroin to fund his own addictions.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson said his client had abstained from drugs for a number of years, but relapsed following the deaths of his cousin and close friend.