A DRUG addicted Whitehaven man who “graduated” to running his own cocaine dealing operation has been jailed.

Jordan Hanlon, 33, was arrested after police raided his Crummock Avenue home and found incriminating evidence following search of his house and garden.

It included a 41g stash of 74 per cent pure cocaine. Carlisle Crown Court prosecutor Brendan Burke outlined the facts.

He said police who were armed with a search warrant went to the defendant’s home on February 13, and with the help of specialist search dogs, they looked for evidence of dealing.

They found packets of drugs in the garden, while in the house there were two sets of digital scales – including one on open display in the kitchen and another under a mattress – as well as snaps bags for deals and a debtors’ list.

The defendant’s criminal record included “multiple instances” of cannabis possession, and also a supply offence, said Mr Burke, who said the drugs recovered were worth more than £3,000.

 “He was using his address as a base of operations," said Mr Burke. The judge in case accepted that the operation was small scale.

Marion Weir, defending, said the defendant had spent five months in custody waiting for his case to come to court. “He has used his time in custody constructively,” said the barrister.

Hanlon had completed a number of courses.

Miss Weir said that while the defendant was locked up his father had has suffered with heart problems, and this weighed on Hanlon.

“He has finally got to the stage where he knows he has to take responsibility for his addiction and his offending,” continued the barrister.

“It was supply to his friend; and supply to fund his own addiction, which he has battled with for a number of years. He now faces the prospect of spending his 34th birthday in prison, away from his children.

“He has had to face difficult issues over the years; and his mental health continues to be challenging. Drugs were a coping mechanism.”

Recorder Michael Blakey referred to a letter from Hanlon’s partner, in which she describes him as a “reasonable, decent individual."

“I think you are waking up to the fact of your responsibility," said the Judge. "But you have a bad record so far as drugs is concerned.

Referring to Hanlon’s background of cannabis addiction, the judge told him: “You have graduated, sadly, to cocaine and that is far more serious. The selling of drugs of any nature causes all sorts of difficulties in society.

“It causes violence and all sorts of different offences, and, in some instances, it can cause death. It’s important that the court does what it can to try to stamp that out. There was an expectation of significant financial income.”

The judge jailed Hanlon for three years.