IPSWICH: A drug dealer, whose luck ran out when police raided his home and found thousands of pounds worth of drugs, has been jailed for four years.

Lee Yates, of Hawthorn Drive – but formerly of Woodbridge – was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of a Class A drug. Yates also admitted possession of a potent form of cannabis with intent to supply.

The 22-year-old was arrested during a police raid at 11am on December 17 last year. The swoop was carried out at in Turn Lane, Woodbridge, Yates’ home address at the time.

While carrying out a search warrant at the premises, police discovered the drugs. In addition, officers found more than �4,500 in cash.

The haul included more than 35 grammes of cocaine and in excess of 400 grammes of skunk – an especially strong form of the Class B drug, cannabis.

Scales used to weigh out the drugs were also seized.

Mobile phones which Yates used to conduct his drug deals were also discovered.

As well as the four years’ imprisonment for possessing cocaine, Yates also received a total jail term of three-and-a-half years for possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply. This is to run concurrently with the four-year sentence.

After Yates’ sentencing Pc Rob Smith, of Suffolk Constabulary, said: “This was an excellent team effort between Woodbridge and Ipswich police that resulted in a relatively untouched local drug dealer receiving a substantial custodial sentence.

“Drug dealers cannot continue to deal drugs and expect to get away with it. They have to be lucky every time, the police only have to be lucky once.”

n Has your family been affected by drugs? E-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or write to Star Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.