A WORCESTER car hirer who ferried almost £10,000 of heroin into the city has been jailed for four years.

Drug courier Amer Hussain agreed to bring the haul in from Bradford for a payment of just £200.

But police stopped his car near an M5 slip road and found 122g of heroin in a bag stashed behind the glove box.

Hussain, who worked at City Rent-a-Car on the Shrub Hill Industrial Estate, admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Judge David McEvoy QC told him: "If there were no couriers, the supply of drugs would be less in Worcester. Couriers must know they will receive a substantial sentence even if they are only going to get £200."

Prosecutor Lucy Hawkins told Worcester Crown Court that the benefits due to drug trafficking in the case amounted to £17,570.

The judge confiscated realisable assets of £180 from the defendant.

Hussain, of Weaver Close, Droitwich, was arrested along with a passenger in his car on Monday, June 18 last year.

Both men denied any knowledge of the drugs and said the car was a rental vehicle.

But Hussain admitted the charge before his trial was due to begin in February.

The other man denied a similar charge and was found not guilty after the Crown offered no evidence.

Hussain, a 23-year-old father-of-one, who had a record for dishonesty, had been a productive member of society and had worked as a trainee manager at a branch of McDonald's, said defence barrister Ranjit Lallie.

Originally from Bradford, he first lived with an uncle when he moved to Worcester. During a six-year relationship, he bought his Droitwich house.

His brother owned a car hire company in Bradford and set up the Worcester office, putting up funds to buy cars, said Mr Lallie.

But Hussain borrowed £200 of the business money and then "foolishly" agreed to carry drugs to pay back the debt.

He had brought shame and embarrassment on his family who were horrified to find him involved in drugs, said Mr Lallie. His jail sentence would lead to suffering for his partner and child.