A drug dealer took so much of his own amphetamines and ketamine that he was found foaming at the mouth at a drive-through fast food shop.

Staff at McDonalds in Newton Abbot called the police after Benjamin Higgins got into an argument with a driver in the car park because of his strange behaviour.

His eyes were glazed, he was foaming at the mouth and was caught with more than £4,000 worth of drugs on him or back at his home at Plymstock.

Messages on his phone showed he had been dealing in both drugs to a group of friends at parties and festivals.

The apprentice bricklayer turned to drug dealing because he could not manage on the £3.20 an hour he was being paid during his final months of training.

Higgins, aged 20, of Millway Place, Plymstock, admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply and two of offering to supply class B drugs.

He was jailed for six months, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £535 costs by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: ‘While you were qualifying to be a brick layer, it seems you had problems with drugs, particularly ketamine and amphetamines. I am told you started using cannabis at a very early age.

‘I take into account that you have taken steps to sort out your problems with drugs and are now qualified and earning decent money.

‘You show every sign of becoming a decent, law-abiding citizen and turning your back completely on drugs, not just supply but also the use of drugs.’

Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said police were called to the drive-through after staff went out to deal with an argument in the car park on August 19 last year.

He said: ‘The member of staff noticed something peculiar about the defendant. He was very nervous, foaming at the mouth and his pupils were dilated.

‘He smelled of cannabis and was trying to stuff a plastic carrier bag inside his trouser leg. Police were called and he was arrested.’

Officers searched him and his home and found bags, scales and festival tickets. They seized 102 grams of ketamine which would have been worth £3,000 to £3,500 if sold in £10 deals and 58 grams of amphetamines worth £580.

A probation report said Higgins started dealing to make money when he was nearing the end of his apprenticeship and earning just £3.20 an hour.

He started using cannabis when he was 14 and moved on to amphetamines and ketamine when he was 18. He financed his habit by buying more than he needed and selling to friends.

He has now given up ketamine and reduced his use of cannabis and amphetamines. He now prefers to skateboard or surf instead of going to drug parties.

Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said: ‘This has been a huge wake-up call for him. He saw an opportunity to make some money and did it for eight weeks before he was arrested.

‘His arrest was like a light bulb going on, it made him ask himself why he was risking his potentially successful future in this way. He has stayed out of trouble in the year since his arrest.’