A Chippenham drug dealer found in possession of a brick-sized block of cocaine worth £100,000 when he was stopped on the M5 near Gloucester has been jailed for five years and eight months.

Prosecutor Susan Cavender told Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday (October 18) that Michael Rose, 55, of Bristol Road Chippenham, was stopped by police on the southbound carriageway of the M5 near Gloucester Services on Sunday August 14, 2022, at 1.50pm.

She said: "The officers suspected the driver of being in possession of drugs and a search was made of the vehicle during which a brick-sized block wrapped in black plastic which contained 1kg of cocaine."

"It was wrapped in a supermarket carrier bag and stored in the boot of the car.

"This block of the Class A drug was valued in street deals at £100,000. Also seized from the vehicle was an extendable baton, found in the driver's door pocket, and a metal pole with a spike on the end of it which was found under the passenger seat. There were also two mobile phones and other drug paraphernalia and £208 in cash.

"His home address was subsequently searched, and a quantity of cocaine was found in an ice cream tub as well as snap bags containing white powder, cash totalling £3,740 and further drug paraphernalia including six more mobile phones.

"All the drugs at his home were valued to be £22,000 in street deals with the cocaine having an 87 per cent purity.

"Analysis of all the phones found evidence of drug dealing between August 12 and 14, the two days leading up to Rose being arrested."

The court was told that Rose made no comment in interview by the police.

Lloyd Jenkins, defending, said: "Depressingly, the facts speak for themselves, and his expectations have been managed. He is realistic that he is to receive a lengthy custodial sentence today.

"His only mitigation is his guilty pleas and the fact he has not troubled the courts for some 27 years. He is remorseful and regrets what he has done.

"Rose's life went wrong when he turned 50 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This had a profound impact on him.

"He had been a lorry driver for over two-and-a-half decades and following his operation it took him over two years to recover from this as he was left having to use incontinence pads, sometimes up to three of four a day.

"In 2019 Rose underwent radiotherapy treatment and by April 2021 he had to give up his job because of the shift patterns and ongoing issues with his health.

"In December 2021 he was involved in an intense course of treatment at the hospital, following which he made poor life choices. He was living off his savings and stupidly turned to cocaine for escapism. However, this turned into a drug habit.

"And this habit turned into drug dealing to a small group of trusted friends. He bought cocaine in bulk to sell on at a small profit.

"Since being remanded in custody, he has engaged with life behind bars and has obtained the status of a super enhanced prisoner."

Rose pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cocaine with intent to supply on August 14, 2022, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon on the same date.

Judge Michael Cullum told Rose: "You clearly had the class A drugs, the drug paraphernalia and the eight phones to run an operation of supplying cocaine. The cocaine had a high purity of over 75 per cent, it was clearly worth a lot of money and at street value this could have been £100,000.

"You were also found with a large quantity of cash in your possession. When you were stopped by police you had two offensive weapons in your car, an extendable baton and a pole with a spike on the end of it.

"It is agreed that you had gained financially from this drug dealing operation and I accept you had health issues prior to you turning to drugs. I also acknowledge that you have previously been a hard-working man who developed health issues and turned to drugs for solace.

"You turned to drugs while dealing with your cancer and to pay for this habit you became involved in drug dealing."

The judge jailed Rose for five years and eight months and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia and the deprivation of the mobile phones.