A MAN who bought a 'round' of ecstasy for a group of friends has been jailed for nine months.

Staff at Blackburn's Utopia nightclub caught Amjad Ali with 11 tablets in his trouser pocket after he had given a pill to two companions who were also later arrested.

Ali, 31, of Leyland Road, Burnley, appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court yesterday on two charges of drug supplying, one of possession and another of possession with intent to supply.

Julie Taylor, prosecuting, said a door supervisor found the defendant in the club following a tip off from a clubber. Ali was taken to the manager's office where 11 tablets were found in his trouser pockets.

The tablets all had the same appearance, with a CK logo, and two other people were also asked to go to the manager's office, both having a similar tablet each.

Ali told police he had bought 15 tablets that night for £45 and had taken some himself and given two to others in a sort of co-operative between himself and friends, where they would pool resources.

Charles Brown, defending, said it was a classic case of a man buying a round of ecstasy, instead of a round of drinks.

Ali had bought a number of tablets to share among friends and for himself. It wasn't a case of anyone selling the drugs.