Dealer caught pouring cocaine down toilet

A DRUG dealer by police desperately trying to get rid of cocaine down the toilet, a court heard.

Joshua Derbyshire-moore, 28, of Market Street, Cinderford, was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Gloucester Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and converting criminal property by depositing sums of cash which were the proceeds of criminal conduct into banks.

Ed Hetherington, prosecuting, said: “Police raided his home, forced entry and found him with his hand down the toilet there was white powder everywhere.

“Thousands of pounds in cash was found in the flat, along with £1,330 worth of cocaine and £1,650 worth of cannabis.”

The court heard much of the cocaine was of a very high purity which suggested that it was to be cut to make more street deals.

Mr Hetherington said: “The drugs were ready for onward supply and police also seized mobile phones which contained various drug messages such as ‘can you do me 20 of white?.’ “It is clear this defendant was playing a significant role in dealing in Class A drugs.” Derbyshire-moore had previous convictions including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in 2015.

The court then heard between 2014 and 2018 the defendant made cash deposits amounting to £125,000 into Santander and HSBC bank accounts.

Jennifer Tallentyre, defending, said: “My client says it was not his flat and not his operation.

“I concede he knew what was going on and his actions when police raided were done out of panic.”

Ms Tallentyre explained her client had a five-year-old son and was earful of imprisonment.

But Judge Ian Lawrie QC jailed Derbyshire-moore for 54 months and set a Proceeds of Crime Application hearing on November 21.

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