A drug dealer took to selling cocaine to get his car through its MOT and was caught after being observed drug dealing by police.
Stephen Edwards, 36, came to the attention of police officers in Penarth on June 6 when he was seen talking to a man known to the police as a drug user.
Later that day, officers stopped the defendant in his Ford Fiesta car outside his home in Tennyson Road, Cogan, and searched him.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard that a "green herbal substance" and two grip seal bags containing the residue of white powder were found on Edwards.
Upon searching the car, police found three grip seal bags. One bag contained 0.5g of cocaine at 77% purity, the second contained 0.5g of cocaine of 83% purity and the third contained just under a gram of cocaine at 81% purity.
The total street value of the drugs was estimated to be between £180 and £210.
A mobile phone was also seized and was found to contain text messages relating to drug dealing between June 4 and 6.
Edwards was arrested and later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine.
The court was told by prosecutor Abigail Jackson the defendant had previous convictions for possession of magic mushrooms and a caution for cannabis production.
Defence barrister Kevin Seal said his client is a father to five children who lives with his former partner, but he provides for them.
He added: "His car was in the garage and he foolishly thought by selling cannabis he could make some quick money which would pay for the car and help him to carry on with his employment."
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan agreed with Mr Seal that Edwards had been "foolish".
He added: "You committed an extremely foolish offence but it's also a serious one and passes the custody threshold immediately."
Edwards was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
