A man turned to drug dealing after running up thousands of pounds of debts.

Nicholas Thomas was jailed for two years after admitted that he sold drugs to his friends.

The 25-year-old who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and cocaine with intent to supply when he appeared at Brighton Crown Court.

The court was told that police raided his home at Ensenada Reef, Eastbourne, in October last year and found cocaine worth about £500 and cannabis to the value of £2,000.

Paul Crampin, defending, said Thomas had been involved in low level supply of drugs to fund his own addiction.

He said Thomas had been running a restaurant with his father which was forced to close down. He said: "By that stage he was addicted to cocaine and then he had a habit he had to fund. He had run up credit card bills of £4,000."