A POLICE strip search found a York man had enough heroin to make 30 "wraps" hidden inside his body, a court heard.

The search was made shortly after Anthony James Ferguson, of Grange Lane, Acomb, had told police he had no drugs on him.

Instead, he was found to be carrying 3.67g of heroin, but said it was for personal use and had only been supplied to his girlfriend.

The offence was committed while Ferguson, 33, was on bail from an incident on April 24 last year, when he was arrested with 2.24g of heroin and nearly 4g of cannabis.

He appeared in York Crown Court yesterday and was jailed for a total of six-and-a half years for two heroin dealing offences, with a further month for possessing the cannabis.

He had admitted one of the heroin-related charges at a separate hearing.

Khadim Al-Hassan, prosecuting, told the court Ferguson was arrested on April 23 last year after being stopped by officers while driving in Windsor Garth.

He admitted to having the 2.24g of heroin, and was also found to have £150 cash and a lock knife.

He was taken to York police station, where he produced the cannabis, but in interview told police he had an internal implant that stopped him taking heroin.

"When asked why he had the heroin he made no reply," Mr Al-Hassan said.

"He was searched by police and asked if he had any drugs. He said no, but the package was found in his back passage."

Christopher Tehrani, for Ferguson, told the court his client had only dealt to friends or associates, all of whom were heroin addicts.

The second package of heroin was supplied only to Ferguson's girlfriend and was for their personal use, he said.

Sentencing Ferguson, Judge Paul Hoffman told him: "There has got to be a long sentence."

Updated: 12:06 Saturday, January 12, 2002