A drug dealer who boasted that he could supply cocaine “in bulk” has been jailed for nearly five years.

Richard Lee Maurice Bennett, 24, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

He had admitted supplying cocaine, between January and May last year and possessing the class A substance with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Zoe Dawson said police executed a drugs warrant at Bennett’s Beck Green home, in Egremont, on May 4.

Bennett was on a sofa and, said Miss Dawson: “Police noted that next to the defendant was a large quantity of Bank of England notes, totalling £560.”

In addition, officers seized cocaine valued at just over £1,000. Some was found to have a high purity of 78 per cent. A phone was also seized.

“It appears, in analysis of text messages found on that phone, that the defendant is supplying a sufficient quantity to other individuals and that it was not merely street supply,” added Miss Dawson.

This had been done over a period of four to five months.

In one message, cocaine user Bennett had stated: “Anyone interested in bulk, giz a shout.”

Greg Hoare, mitigating, spoke of past problems in his client’s life.

His drug use had “escalated” and Mr Hoare said: “He got involved in dealing in order to be able to deal with the drug habit after he lost his job.”

Bennett had previously been employed at Sellafield, said the barrister, who added: “In 2012-13 there were the beginnings, then, of mental health issues that are still far from resolved.”

Bennett was jailed for four years and eight months by Judge Barbara Forrester.

She ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs seized and confiscation of the cash that had been found.