POLICE have revealed the custody image of a father of two from Basingstoke who was forced to deal drugs after borrowing £10,000 to pay for his daughter’s medical treatment.

Nicolae Timirasu was handed a 41 month prison sentence at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, December 3 for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The 46-year-old was stopped by a plain-clothed police officer in the Waitrose car park in Basing View on September 30 after a man was witnessed obtaining cocaine.

Timirasu was found with four wraps of cocaine on his person and a further 35 wraps were discovered in his car, alongside £970 in cash.

Police then searched his address in Packenham Road, Kings Furlong where they found a further £4,325, four sets of scales and a dealers list of contact details.

Appearing for the defence, Dana Bilan told the court how he borrowed money from the wrong people to pay for his daughter’s treatment.

She said: “He has borrowed money from these people and was subsequently asked to do the drugs for them.”

Recorder Gordon Bebb QC told the court that he was satisfied Timirasu knew the “scale” of the drug dealing.

He said: “I take into account what you say about the offending, what you say about financial pressure and the health issues regarding one of your children, but I am satisfied you were aware of the scale.”

Timirasu will also pay a victim surcharge, the cash was forfeited, and the drugs will be destroyed.