A Gloucester man found with £22,000 worth of heroin and cocaine in his rucksack just five days after he had been sentenced for drug dealing has been jailed for five years.

On July 5 this year Gloucester Crown Court gave Abu Ali of Goodyere Street a suspended sentence for drug dealing. But on July 10th he was caught with a new stash of Class A substances.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told the crown court today "On July 10 police officers attended the New County Hotel in Southgate Street looking for Ali on an unrelated matter connected with an alleged assault.

"They spotted Ali walking down the main stairs and when he started running away they gave chase.

"Ali was stopped and his rucksack was searched. Officers discovered a large amount of class A drugs inside the bag along with drug paraphernalia including weighing scales and a burner phone that was used for drug dealing.

"He also had £1,350 in cash on him which the police believed to be his proceeds from drug dealing and was subsequently arrested for possessing class A drugs with the intent to supply."

Judge Recorder James Waddington QC observed: "It's top level drug dealing. He clearly knows what he is doing. He has a significant role.

"Ali can't escape the fact that he was caught dealing in drugs just days after being convicted for a similar offence."

Nicholas Clough, defending, said: "Ali was in the middle of a drug dealing chain and he was being ordered to supply heroin and cocaine to a woman in the chain.

"He is currently serving a 20week prison sentence for battery, which was imposed by Cheltenham Magistrates on July 17.

Judge Waddington added: "It is obvious he is the middle of a drug dealing chain as he paying for the drugs from dealers, cutting it down into smaller quantities before selling it onwards."

The judge turned to Ali and said: "I have to sentence you for your latest drug offence and for your breach of a suspended sentence.

"You obviously did not learn your lesson. A few days before your latest arrest you were given a suspended sentence for dealing in class A drugs.

"Therefore I have no choice but to impose a substantial custodial sentence as you played a significant role in the middle of this drug dealing chain.

"In my judgement you will be sentenced to three years for your latest offence and two years for the suspended sentence originally imposed in July.

"That is a total of five years which will be served following the conclusion of the sentence you are already serving."

The judge ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, drug paraphernalia and the burner phone and subjected Ali to a victim surcharge of £181.

He also ordered for the confiscation of the £1,350 cash as the proceeds of crime and for it to be donated to Gloucestershire Police's drug prevention education programme.