A DRUG dealer has been jailed for three years after a police search revealed more than £8,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine at a property in Weymouth.

Aaron Marcus Blackwood, aged 26, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced after admitting two charges of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.

His co-defendant Jason Dominic Vigor, 46, also admitted both charges.

Prosecutor Jodie Mittell told the court that on June 12 last year police attended the property where Vigor was living with his partner in Mount Pleasant Avenue South in Weymouth and found Blackwood was also staying at the property.

Inside officers found a canister with a false bottom that contained more than 150 wraps of what appeared to be Class A drugs.

Analysis revealed that the wraps contained a total of 35.4grams of heroin and 48.69g of crack cocaine with an estimated combined street value of £8,360.

Vigor entered his guilty plea on a basis, claiming he was a heroin addict and his co-defendant - whom he knew only as 'Dan' - had come down from London to deal drugs from the property.

The court was told that it was accepted Vigor's role was that of a 'street runner'.

Blackwood, of Vauxhall Street, Kennington in London, also admitted a charge of possessing criminal property in relation to £2,000 in cash that was found at the property.

Audrey Archer, representing Blackwood, said the father of five knew he was likely to face a significant custodial sentence for his actions.

She said: "He knows full well that he faces an immediate custodial sentence today and that's a very daunting prospect for him."

Ms Archer said her client had been dealing to fund his own drug habit and there were people higher up in the chain directing him.

Judge Douglas Field told Blackwood: "The fact is that in the summer of last year you came down from London to Weymouth with an express purpose of pushing drugs on the streets of Weymouth and you played a significant role."

Blackwood was sentenced to a total of three years and four months in prison.

Vigor was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years with a supervision requirement and a drug rehabilitation requirement.

His barrister had claimed there was an 'atmosphere of intimidation' in the flat and as heroin addict Vigor became 'dependent' on his co-defendant and he could not get Blackwood to leave.

Detective Constable Declan Cummings, of Weymouth CID, said: “This sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences.

“The supply of class A drugs has an impact on the safety of the community and I am pleased that justice has been done today.”

Dorset Police say the case was an example of a practice known as ‘cuckooing’, where drugs supplied into Weymouth predominantly originate from London or Liverpool.

In order to get a foothold in the town, a city dealer takes over premises, usually belonging to a drug user or vulnerable person, to use as an operating base.

DCCummings said: “In this case, Aaron Blackwood had bullied his way into an address in the town. He utilised many of the methods used by cuckooing offenders, including intimidation.”

Weymouth and Portland Neighbourhood Inspector Pete Browning said: “This investigation has been part of Operation Champion.

"The operation was set up over 18 months ago to target drug related crime in the area.

"Officers have been carrying out intelligence-led, high visibility patrols and enforcement activity.

“We have been working closely in partnership with a range of other agencies to further develop our longer term problem solving approach to drug-related issues.

“We take the concerns of the public very seriously and we will continue to work closely with members of the Weymouth community to keep the town safe and proactively deal with information relating to drug offences and other criminal or anti-social behaviour.”

Members of the public who have concerns, suspicions or any information about the misuse of drugs should contact Dorset Police on 101, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.