A STUDENT has been jailed after he was caught importing class A drugs into the country.

Dan Regan had been studying at Solent University when a package of 110 ecstasy tablets being mailed to him was intercepted, a court heard.

The 22-year-old, who only told his family the trouble he was in a fortnight ago, was jailed for three years.

Southampton Crown Court heard the tablets, which police estimated had a sale value of £1,100, had been sent to his address concealed in a CD case from Amsterdam, but were discovered by the post service on January 20 this year.

Regan was identified from the address on the parcel and police searched his home but did not find other drugs.

But, when they examined an iPad and mobile phone, officers found conversations on social media site Tinder between November and January in which Regan was saying he could get hold of pills.

In response to a query asking if he sold pills he replied "You need to be a bit more discrete about it but maybe".

The court heard Regan intended to sell the imported drugs to people he knew and keep some for use himself.

Prosecutor Tom Wright said "There is a financial motive for this and an operator role in Mr Regan offering to sell and arranging to sell these drugs."

The tablets could be bought online for as little as 25p but can be sold for £5 to £10, the court heard.

Regan, of Burlington Road, The Polygon, of previous good character, admitted fraudulent evasion of a prohibition, though it was accepted by the prosecution that Regan had heard tablets could be purchased on the internet and had asked someone else to order them.

Louise Howard, mitigating, said the crime had a "lack of sophistication" and that the sports journalism student had been seduced by a culture of supplementing studies with drugs and had failed to appreciate the risk he was taking and the potential consequences.

The court heard how the student had been dealing with the whole seven-month court process himself up until two weeks ago when he confessed to his family.

He he had been working full-time over the summer in Southampton to contribute to legal costs and that his family were in court for the hearing.

His mother, who was in court with his father and brother having come down from Wales to support him, sobbed as he was led away.

Ms Howard said: "The single failure to stop and appreciate the consequences of his actions will have an enormous effect on his future."

In sentencing, Judge Peter Henry said he had taken into account his early guilty plea, remorse and character references.

"It is clear what you have done has caused enormous anguish not just to you when you find yourself where you are but also to your family," he said.

"It's a crying shame that I have to deal with you for a very serious offence."

He ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.