A DEALER in hard drugs was beginning a six-year prison sentence last night, after a successful police swoop.

Drugs, with a street value of £53,000, were recovered after officers put Operation Goya into action last June, arresting 37-year-old Thomas Davidson.

Durham Crown Court was told he was stopped at the wheel of a Renault Megane car in Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, at 9.13pm.

More than 7oz of cocaine was recovered from the car, but a subsequent search of an address in Copley Lane, Copley, near Bishop Auckland, led to the recovery of a further 9oz of the drug, plus 3,343 Ecstasy tablets and 18oz of cannabis resin.

Jamie Adams, prosecuting, said that more than £23,000 in cash was seized, plus what appeared to be a "debtor's list".

During a series of police interviews, Davidson admitted intending to sell the Ecstasy and cocaine, for which he charged £500 for a half ounce and £1,000 per ounce, while the cannabis was "in safe keeping".

Davidson told officers that £19,000 of the recovered money represented profit from selling drugs in the year up to his arrest.

Jim Withyman, in mitigation, said Davidson began taking hard drugs through socialising with other users, bringing him into contact with a dealer.

Mr Withyman said Davidson was initially asked to provide storage, but after some of the drugs were damaged he had to repay the debt by beginning dealing himself, initially among friends.

A subsequent hearing is to be staged to decide which proceeds can be recovered from Davidson, who has a villa and bank account in Spain.

Davidson, formerly of High Northgate, Darlington, admitted three charges of drug possession with intent to supply.

Jailing him, Deputy Circuit Judge Denis Orde told him: "You were no doubt conducting a very brisk trade in illicit class A drugs."

Following the hearing, Detective Inspector Shaun McElvaney, head of Durham Police drugs squad, said: "We are very pleased with the sentence.

"This was an operation which was two or three months in planning and it removed from the street a major dealer from the area.

"We hope it reinforces the clear message to those intending to deal in drugs that they can expect to receive long sentences when they are caught.