A MAN looked after a high-strength cocaine haul for about an hour just to get a free meal.

But Waseem Ahmed, 20, who was minding the drugs for an acquaintance, is now serving a 12-month jail term after being caught by police.

Ahmed had drugs in his trouser pocket and also left cocaine on the seat he was sitting on in the police car, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of Albert Street, Brierfield, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing the drug.

Sentencing, Recorder Arthur Noble told Ahmed, who would have got either a small profit or a meal for risking his freedom, only custody could be justified.

Emma Kehoe, prosecut-ing, told the court last October police in Thomp-son Park, Burnley, came across the defendant and another male. An officer identified himself and Ahmed ran off.

The officer managed to catch the defendant, both fell to the ground and a wrap of cocaine was found on him.

He was arrested and drugs were then found in the police car when it was checked on arrival at the police station. Ahmed was interviewed and made no comment to the majority of questions.

Mrs Kehoe said the 11 wraps of drugs seized were sent for analysis and found to be 91 to 92 per cent purity and worth up to almost £600 on the streets. The defendant had no previous convictions for drugs offences.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Ahmed had put his liberty in jeopardy but the offences were at the lower end of the scale.

A friend of the defendant had gone to hire a car and did not want to take the drugs with him.

He saw the defendant in Brierfield and asked him if he would look after the cocaine. Ahmed agreed, had been foolish in the extreme but he was not seen to supply drugs to anybody or to attempt to supply drugs.

Mr Stuart said the cocaine was in Ahmed's possession for an hour or two and he would then have returned the drugs.

The barrister added: "This is a peculiar form of involvement in the supply of drugs."