A DOZY drug dealer could be jailed after being caught with a harmless white powder he believed to be a Class A drug.

Anthony Jackson, 20, told police he was in possession of MDMA when he was stopped in Colchester.

Forensic tests were carried out and the powder was found not to be an illegal substance.

Jackson, of Alderton Road, Colchester, admitted attempted possession and attempted supply of class A drugs, during a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Philip Pearson, prosecuting, revealed Jackson had bought £80 of what he thought was the ecstasy- based drug MDMA and broke it down into six bags for re-sale.

He went to Essex University’s Colchester campus on October 27 and sold two bags.

He was later stopped by police and told them he was carrying drugs.

Mr Pearson said: “This is a very unusual charge. You can attempt anything, even the impossible.

“Jackson was very co-operative with police and we could not have brought these charges had he not been so co-operative.

“This was a foolish action.”

Jackson was carrying 1 gram of of the powder.

The court was told sentencing guidelines for the offences meant he could still face up to 18 months in prison, despite not possessing illegal substances.

Magistrates said the case was too serious for them to deal with and Jackson will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court later this month.

Jackson, who has no previous convictions, was bailed.