A drug dealer who sold crack cocaine to undercover police has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Louis Peters, 49, who was snared in Littlehampton, said he did not realise how dangerous the drug was.

Graham Cooke, prosecuting, told Chichester Crown Court on Friday that the defendant, of River Road, Littlehampton, sold £250 of crack cocaine to police between November 13 and 25 last year.

Peters had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying crack cocaine and two of being concerned with the supply of the drug.

Mark Humphries, defending, said: "Peters said he was not aware of the effects of crack cocaine. He was trying to save money to visit family in Trinidad.

"He was not taking a great deal of money from the sale of the drug."

The court was told Peters lived in a rented room, drove a £400 car and had no assets to speak of.

Mr Humphries said: "He was very much a small-time dealer and an amateur."

Judge John Sessions, on sentencing, said: "You yourself are not a drug user. But the supply of crack cocaine is leading to an emerging problem in Sussex and is of great concern to the police.

"It is linked to a developing problem with the use of firearms."

Peters looked stunned as he was sentenced.