A MAN who sold cocaine to two callers at his home told them to be wary of “spies in the street”, not realising his ‘customers’ were undercover police officers.

Durham Crown Court heard the officers were told to go to that address, in Seventh Street, Horden, after previous suppliers said they had no cocaine available, on June 27, last year.

On arrival at the house, the officers, “Danny” and “Kelly”, asked: “Is he in?”

They were shown in and met Trevor Mather, who sold them £20-worth of “white”, and then followed with his warning to them to be wary of the, “spies in the street”.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said the officers bought a further wrap of similar high purity cocaine the following day, in exchange for a £20 note, which Mather tucked into his sock.

Asked when it was best to call, he told them he had cocaine available “most times”.

There was a further similar sale on July 4, before Mather was arrested in a series of early morning raids in the Horden area, on August 1.

Miss Lamballe said he was in possession of a small amount of cocaine and cannabis at the time.

Mather, 34, made no comment to police questions, but, at court he admitted three counts of supplying cocaine, plus possession of the class A drug and cannabis.

The court heard his nine previous convictions, for 13 offences, include three drug-related matters.

Neil Bennett, mitigating, two were for possession, but the last, in 2014, was for supplying cannabis for which Mather served an eight-month prison sentence, having managed, “to keep himself out of trouble” for some time previously.

Mr Bennett added that Mather’s motivation was to help his family make ends meet at a difficult time financially.

Jailing him for three years and four months, Recorder Michael Wheeler said as a result of his actions, they would be without his support for some time to come.