A DRUG dealer has been jailed for three years after police officers found incriminating messages on his mobile phone.

Jamie Rice, 26, was arrested on April 4 last year by officers investigating an assault, Winchester Crown Court heard.

When they looked through Rice’s phone, they found text messages relating to the dealing of cocaine, MDMA and the former legal high mephedrone.

Rice, of Skyline Plaza, Alencon Link, Basingstoke, appeared in the dock having admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and one of a Class B drug.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, said: “Rice’s arrest led to his phone being seized and examined and it was during the course of that examination a number of incriminating text messages were found, for a period between February and April last year.”

The court heard that while Rice claimed he was just a runner, text messages revealed he had gained financially and sent others to complete his deals, which were sometimes worth hundreds of pounds.

There were also references to chasing debts of other people, Mr Ellacott said, as well as debts Rice had accrued to people further up the drugs supply chain.

Despite the text messages, officers did not find any drugs on Rice or at his address.

Sinead Willox, defending, said Rice had been in a steady relationship with his partner, with whom he had a young daughter, when his own drug use “got out of control” in February last year.

Judge Andrew Barnett jailed Rice for a total of three years.

He said: “These drugs, particularly cocaine, can have a devastating effect on people and it’s a life-changing, life-threatening and, on occasion, a life-destroying substance.”