IPSWICH: A 21 year-old man convicted of drug dealing is beginning a jail sentence of more than five years today.

A stash of cocaine with a street value of �3,500 was found during a police raid at the Ipswich home of Theodore Knight, who worked as a glass collector at an Ipswich nightspot.

When officers turned up Knight’s Browning Road home they also discovered two mobile phones and a total of �175 in cash, as well as the Class A drugs.

Knight had denied possession of cocaine with intent to supply but was convicted following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

He was jailed for five years for the drug offence and a further three months for breaching a previous suspended sentence.

After Knight was jailed Detective Chief Inspector Dave Cutler, of Ipswich CID, said: “This sentence sends a clear message to anyone involved in dealing drugs that they can and will be caught.

“We are extremely committed to targeting and disrupting the supply of controlled drugs, which we know can be greatly upsetting for local people and can have a real impact on how safe they feel in their area.

“These type of offences will not be tolerated in Suffolk.”

At Knight’s sentencing Norwich Crown Court heard he had previously been given suspended 12 month jail sentence for a string of burglaries of Ipswich homes. During one of the break-ins he had attacked an occupant one of the homes he was burgling.

Jailing Knight, Recorder Christopher Makey told him” The supply of Class A drugs is an extremely serious offence.”

He said although there was no direct evidence he had been dealing, the drugs were of considerable value.

Recorder Makey said the jail sentence would have an appalling effect on Knight’s family

Roger Thomson for Knight said: “Although the drugs were found at his premises he does not accept he was drug dealing. This was one stash of drugs.”

Mr Thomson added that it was an isolated incident

He said Knight was now clean of drugs and came from a good family.

Mr Thomson said: “He is an intelligent young man. He comes from a good family.”

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