A confiscation hearing for a former soldier who was jailed after police found a block of cocaine with a potential street value of more than £80,000 at his home has been adjourned until next month.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was 26-year-old Mason Squirrell of Seaward Avenue, Leiston.

The hearing was adjourned until October 16 after the court heard there was a significant disparity between the prosecution and the defence in Squirrell's benefit figure. 

At an earlier hearing Squirrell admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine, possession of a firearm, namely a pistol, and possession of an offensive weapon, a knuckle duster.

He was jailed for five years in March.

Police went to his home on September 2 last year with a search warrant and in addition to the pistol and 1kg of cocaine they also found a knuckleduster and a quantity of cannabis.

Sentencing Squirrell in March, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said he had served in the Parachute Regiment for five years and had traits of post traumatic stress disorder.

She described the pistol found at his home as a “dangerous firearm” and said compatible ammunition was also found.

The judge said Squirrell had been unemployed when he came out of the army and had been put under pressure to work off a debt by looking after the pistol and drugs.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said the pistol had been manufactured with a blocked barrel but at some stage the blocked section had been replaced with a metal tube.

He said the block of cocaine, which had a purity of 76%, had a wholesale value of £25,000-£30,000 and a potential street value of £80,000-£100,000.

Mr Crimp said the cannabis had a wholesale value of £400 and a street value of more than £600.