An ex-squaddie who witnessed the death of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan turned to drug dealing to support his family.

But Jahzell Costley, 31, of The Meadows, Herne Bay has been jailed for five years after police found heroin, a gun and ammunition at his home.

Costley had been driving in February last year when police stopped him.

Canterbury Crown Court heard police discovered 18.67 gms of heroin inside the vehicle and began questioning him.

Costley gave officers two addresses where he claimed he was living at and police raided the Herne Bay home.

"You suffered serious injury and witnessed the death of a close colleague and you were discharged from the army under difficult circumstances" - Recorder Ed Connell

The judge, Recorder Ed Connell heard that inside the property police discovered an air pistol and ammunition hidden in the loft.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told how Costley claimed he had confiscated the weapon from a younger cousin intending to dispose of it.

The former soldier said the ammunition was in his kit bag when he had returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and admitted he knew it should have been handed in.

Tanoo Mylvaganam, defending, said the ex-soldier had been injured in Afghanistan and had been present when a colleague was killed.

The barrister said that on returning to the UK, Costley had supported his family with compensation payments.

But when the money ran out he turned to drug dealing to meet his family’s financial needs.

“He is supported by his family and feels deeply he has let them down and let down the army, he had served since 2009," she said.

The judge jailed him for a total of five years after he had admitted possessing the air pistol which was designed or adapted for use with a self-contained gas cartridge, possessing ammunition without a licence.

Costley had denied possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply but a jury rejected his claim he was an addict and the heroin was for his own use and found him guilty.

Recorder Connell told him there had been enough heroin for 190 street deals – adding: “This is a particularly tragic case of a young man with responsibilities.

“You suffered serious injury and witnessed the death of a close colleague and you were discharged from the army under difficult circumstances.

“However, these offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be imposed".

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