A DRUG dealer caught with thousands of pounds worth of heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed.

Officers raided a flat being used by Chris Morton in Archers Road, Freemantle, after believing suspicious activity was taking place in the premises.

When they arrived, they found the 24-year-old with more than £2,000 worth of class A drugs, as well as 51 wraps of heroin and 100 wraps of cocaine in a package on his body.

Southampton Crown Court heard that the Londoner had a “significant” role in the operation which saw drugs being sent out across the city and sold to users.

James Kellam, prosecuting, said: “Police believed that someone from out of town was supplying drugs and they were being sold from the flat.

“When they raided the flat, they found him with drugs with a street value of £2,410.”

The court heard that after he was arrested he made no comment interviews with officers.

Francis Abbott, mitigating, told the court that Morton dealt the drugs to “earn kudos” with a group of friends.

The court heard that he had struggled to fit in after he moved to the UK from Holland when he was 12-years-old.

Mr Abbott added that Morton “regretted” his actions when he was caught on January 26 this year.

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC said: “This is becoming a significant problem where people are travelling out of London to other cities and using other people’s flats to distribute the drugs.”

Morton, of Stockwell Road, Lambeth, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing class A drugs with an intent to supply.

He was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

An order to destroy the seized drugs and mobile phone was approved.