A heroin and cocaine dealer tried to get himself out of trouble by claiming he was selling sex, not drugs - but a jury rejected his 'brazen lies' and he was jailed yesterday (July 9) for five years, three months.

Zamar Gouldbourne, 32, of Rockgrove Way, Southwark, London, pleaded not guilty to having drugs with intent to supply in Gloucester and Cheltenham in August last year and again in April and then May this year.

His trial was held last month at Bristol Crown Court where he claimed that texts he sent out offering drugs for sale were in fact his attempts at male prostitution. He claimed he was actually offering sexual services to both men and women.

But jailing him Recorder Andrew Langdon said "You provided an unsupported story that you were selling not drugs but sex. The jury had no difficulty in rejecting that.

"I am told you now accept that you lied to the jury. I do not inflict extra punishment for your brazen attempt to secure an acquittal. But there has been no remorse, no acceptance by you of the damage that drugs do to individuals, families, and whole communities."

The judge said he was satisfied that Gouldbourne had played a 'significant role' in bringing hard drugs to Gloucester and Cheltenham. He had to be sentenced for more than the four and a half year starting point for his offending because he had come to the area on three seperate occasions last year and this to ply his trade, the Recorder added.

Also in the dock was Leon Robinson, 22, of Arlington Lodge, Brixton, who admitted taking part in the offences with Gouldbourne but denied that he was as involved as the prosecution alleged.

A 'trial of issue' was held for the judge to determine the exact extent of his involvement.

Recorder Langdon told Robinson that even though he had been found to be lying about the level of his knowledge about the drug operation he had formed a good impression of him,

"You are a relatively unsophisticated man and immature for your years," he said.

"You were there in some supporting role. I am satisfied you knew you were holding Class A drugs when the police stopped the car you were in and you intended them to go back to Mr Gouldbourne.

"I think there is some prospect that maybe this is the last time you get yourself into trouble. I am willing to take a chance with you.

"It seems to me that society will in the end be best served if I do so."

He sentenced Robinson to 18 months jail suspended for two years and ordered him to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to attend a 30 session programme to focus on his decision making and reasoning, six days of rehab activity and told to pay £300 costs.

Recorder Langdon told Robinson this had been a 'life changing moment' in his life and he now had the chance to choose a better way of life.