A-40-year-old man who committed a series of drug offences two years apart was yesterday jailed for two years and eight months.

Nicholas Geenty admitted possessing class B drugs for supply in Minchinhampton in November 2017 and possessing a quantity of class A drugs, heroin and cocaine and class B cannabis on two occasions in May this year.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC lamented the length of time it had taken for Geenty's case to be brought before him at Gloucester Crown Court.

"This is the second case within a week that we are dealing with something that has taken so long to come to court," he said.

"It has taken two years for this case to come before the court, despite the defendant pleading with the police to deal with it."

Prosecutor Greg Gordon explained to the court that Geenty's Box Crescent address in Minchinhampton was searched on November 15, 2017.

He said: "The search found £3,120 worth of cannabis was found along with ecstasy tablets valued at between £1,750 and £5,850 and £1,056 cash which is believed to be the proceeds from drug dealing.

"Geenty was released under police investigation.

"However, he was stopped by police driving an Audi A3 without a valid MOT certificate on May 10, this year and a search was made of his vehicle.

"Police found bags of cocaine valued at between £850 and £1,000, cannabis wraps valued at £90 and £2,445 in cash believed to be the proceeds from drug dealing. Again he was released under police investigation.

"But 12 days later he was stopped by police in the same Audi when officers were overcome by the strong smell of cannabis. 

A search was carried out of the vehicle which revealed £3,500 worth of cocaine and £580 in cash believed to be the proceeds from drug dealing.

"A set of weighing scales, a knife and other drug paraphernalia was also discovered."

Joe Maloney defending said: "He is old enough to know better and he has spent the last 200 days while being remanded in custody to reflect on what he has done.

"He was under the impression that the 2017 offences were not being taken forward as he had constantly been asking the police to deal with those matters.

"Earlier this year he found himself in debt to the drug dealers and turned to dealing himself to pay off the money he owed. 

"He was caught with large amounts of class A drugs on two occasions in an attempt to clear his debt.

"Since he has been in prison he has been clean from drugs and has used his time wisely. 

"He admits that he had been addicted to cannabis and cocaine but being drug free he hopes to gain employment as a window fabricator in the future."

Judge Lawrie observed: "One set of charges have arrived at this court via a scenic route but they echo similar offending to the later offences.

"It wasn't without the lack of effort of Geenty who played his part in trying to get the original case to court, but it's the system which is creaking, but that is the way it is today."

Judge Lawrie told Geenty as he jailed him for two years and eight months: "The offences are such that they cross the custody threshold, to which you had a significant role in the world of drug dealing.

"You chose not to put up any resistance not to deal in drugs, in which I hope you have now learnt your lesson."

The judge ordered Geenty to pay a victim surcharge of £170. 

"He also ordered for the forfeiture and destruction of all the drugs and associated paraphernalia along with the forfeiture of the cash seized to be donated to Gloucestershire Police's drug prevention education programme.