A DRUG dealer who claimed he sold cocaine to repay a loan shark has been jailed for four years and one month.

Michael William Cuthbert said he turned to dealing the class A drug among fellow users and friends to try to meet a £10,000 debt, which he claimed he was being pressured to pay off under threat of violence.

But a judge at Durham Crown Court cast doubt over his story and sentenced him on the basis that he made a financial gain as the dealing was for his own benefit.

The court was told it followed a police raid at his home, on Sherburn Road Estate, Durham, on December 18 last year.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, said 2.4g of cocaine and 35 diazepam tablets were recovered, while £4,700 found in his bedroom was also seized by police.

Despite initially saying the money was made "honestly", in due course he made admissions, telling officers he was £10,000 in debt and selling drugs to pay that off, or risk having his legs broken.

He said he had been selling drugs "on the street" for a few months and bought an ounce of cocaine every two months for £1,700, on which he made £1,100 profit.

The diazepam, valium pills, were said to be for his own use.

Cuthbert, 25, of Maple Avenue, admitted possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and simple possession of a class B drug.

Ian Hudson, mitigating said Cuthbert was dealing over about 15 months, and the £4,700 was going to contribute to repaying his £10,000 debt, as there was, "otherwise, an immediate threat of serious violence."

But after calling for evidence from the defendant, who refused to name the loan shark who made the threats, or any other people he had allegedly intimidated, Judge Christopher Prince told him: "I find you a wholly unconvincing witness."

He added: "I do not believe your account for one moment.

"I, therefore, sentence you on the basis that you weren't being coerced.

"It was to have money, a nice lifestyle and to go on holiday."

Jailing him for a total of 49 months, Judge Prince also ordered destruction of the recovered drugs.