A Forest of Dean drug dealer was caught red-handed by police who raided his home and found him 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-half years at Gloucester Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply on March 27, possessing cannabis with intent to supply on the same date and converting criminal property by depositing sums of cash which were the proceeds of criminal conduct into banks between November 27, 2014 and December 3, 2018

Prosecuting barrister Ed Hetherington 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 that much of the cocaine was of a very high purity - 82% - which suggested that it was to be cut to make more street deals.

"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 that 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, when he was jailed.

The court then heard that between 2014 and 2018 the defendant made cash deposits amounting to £125,000 into Santander and HSBC bank accounts. Some of the deposits were in branches of the banks in Yorkshire.

Defending barrister Jennifer Tallentyre said "My client says that it was not his flat and not his operation. In fact the owner of the flat in currently under investigation by the police and might well be charged.

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

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

But His Honour Judge Ian Lawrie QC jailed Derbyshire-Moore for 54 months and set a Proceeds of Crime Application timetable to seize the defendant's ill-gotten gains.

The POCA hearing will be held on November 21.