DRUG dealer Jeffrey Richardson has been jailed for three years after a police raid on his home.

The 32-year-old was found to have ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis as well as dealer's paraphernalia including scales and lists of debts.

James Patrick, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Richardson was still in bed when police executed a search warrant at 10am on January 16.

Officers asked him if he had any drugs and he pointed to a tin which contained five grams of cannabis bush and 14 grams of cannabis resin saying: "Just that".

He was also found to have £680 in his pocket but police also found another tin containing 10 grams of cannabis.

Downstairs in an office they found some electric scales and a money tin which was opened with a key on Richardson's fob and contained 60 ecstasy tablets, 64 grams of amphetamines and a 9-oz bar of cannabis resin.

Mr Patrick said a blue book containing names with numbers next to them was also found and he told the court it was what is known as a 'dealer's list'.

A mobile phone was also examined and was found to have two messages on it which appeared to relate to drug dealing.

When he was questioned Richardson claimed all the drugs were for his personal consumption, but during that time, the mobile rang about a dozen times with people asking for drugs.

The court was told that a total of 308 grams of cannabis resin was recovered along with the other drugs making a total street value of about £1,800.

Richardson, of Churchill Way, Corsham, pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis resin with intent to supply and straight possession of a small amount of cannabis bush.

The court was told that he had 85 previous convictions including four of possessing drugs in the past three years.

Alex Daymond, defending, said that his client had started selling drugs to fund his own habit and did not make a profit from it.

He said "He was a long term user and just before Christmas he had the opportunity to gain the drugs which are in the charges.

"He had gone to buy his own drugs and he was offered some more in bulk and saw it as a chance to sell to a small circle of friends to feed his own habit."

Since his arrest he said his client had stopped taking most drugs, though he was still using cannabis, as he was finding it hard to give up.

He said that he lived with his partner and her children, one of whom is disabled, and they treat him as their father.

Mr Daymond said his client hoped to have the chance of going on a drug treatment and testing order so he could get the counselling and help to stay off drugs.

But jailing him Judge John McNaught said "People who deal in drugs go into it with their eyes open and should know substantial periods in prison come when they are caught, as they will be."