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A drug dealer who shares a name with the main character in Trainspotting has been sentenced to six years in prison for dealing heroin.

Mark Renton, 37, pleaded guilty to selling heroin on a daily basis over a period of around six weeks earlier this year.

In the film series, Renton is a heroin addict attempting to come off of it and even gets involved in selling the class A drugs.

The fictional Renton is played by Ewan McGregor and manages to move on from a life of drugs but his real-life namesake has not been able to do so.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

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The dealer who shares his name with the fictional character has now been sent to jail following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh - the same city where the film is set.

He was warned by Lord Pentland that he had been given "numerous opportunities" to address his addiction.

It is the fourth time that the 37-year-old has been found guilty of trafficking diamorphine.

He was caught with heroin worth about £620, a wad of cash and a phone in the Pilton area of the Scottish capital in April this year.

The repeat offender has previously been handed a six-year sentence for five counts of housebreaking and theft.

As part of his defence, Renton claimed that he was only selling drugs to help a mother gain access to her children and assist in paying off her debts.

But this tall tale was called an "implausible explanation" by the judge who pointed out that, regardless of whether his story was true, he had still "once again" committed the offence.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

As Lord Pentland made his final decision, he concluded that Renton was a danger to public safety who was unlikely to address his drug dependence.

He said: "In view of the nature and extent of your record I am unable to accept that you are willing seriously to address, even with support, your underlying problems.

"In my considered view, you present a substantial danger to public safety.

"The trade in class A drugs, in which you have willingly played an active part over many years, is one that brings misery and despair to many communities.

"In all the circumstances, I consider that in addition to punishing you for what you have done, I must impose a sentence which makes plain to anyone who might be tempted to take part at any level in the supplying of controlled drugs that the courts will deal severely with the type of repeated offending demonstrated in your case."