A STOURBRIDGE father of three caught with £100,000 worth of top grade heroin has been put behind bars for nine years.

Judge Martin Walsh told 25-year-old Elton Hoxha it was clear he played a key role in what was a “sophisticated” drug dealing operation.

“Class A drugs destroy individuals’ lives and they blight communities,” the judge stressed, as he warned anyone involved in dealing heroin must expected a lengthy jail term.

Hoxha, of Wychbury Road, had denied possessing the drug with intent to supply and money laundering.

But he was found guilty on both charges by a jury after they retired to consider the evidence at the end of his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The court was told that Hoxha was a front seat passenger in a Vauxhall car when it was pulled over by police officers in Park Road, Lye, and when his home was later searched £14,000 in cash was discovered.

Faition Duduci, 22, of Vicarage Road, Lye, was in the back seat of the Vauxhall and he had the 1kg haul of heroin which was of high purity next to him.

The judge said Hoxha had played a significant part in the acquisition of the heroin and the distribution of the Class A drug and evidence recovered from his mobile telephone indicated it was a well organised drug dealing operation.

Samantha Powis, defending Hoxha - described as a man who worked hard for his family, said investigating police officers had found no drug dealing paraphernalia at his home.

Dudici has admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and money laundering on a basis and he will be sentenced later in the year after a Newton hearing to determine the issue.