A WAR veteran who stored crack cocaine and heroin in Kinder Eggs told police the empty containers were for his children.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police pulled over father-of-three Lee Farley, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, in Bacup on July 23 after a tip-off that his vehicle was being used in the supply of drugs.

Prosecuting, Stephen Parker said officers could smell a strong smell of cannabis and saw a large knife in the driver’s door pocket. Farley also handed police a quantity of cannabis and a knuckleduster.

Mr Parker said when officers searched the car they found four Kinder Eggs, two of which contained a combined total of £1,110 worth of class A drugs. That was broken down into £760 of heroin and £350 of crack cocaine.

When interviewed by the police 43-year-old Farley said he had a £40 a day cannabis habit and he needed money to fund it. He also claimed the two empty Kinder Eggs had been for his children.

Farley, of Abbey Road, Middleton, pleaded guilty possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and possessing a machete and a knuckle duster in a public place.

Defending, Michael James said: “The defendant has served in the army. He served tours of Afghanistan and Iraq.

“He describes those as being traumatic and having a lasting impact upon him.”

Judge Simon Medland QC jailed him for four years.