A COCAINE dealer from Kingsclere has been jailed for more than three years after his car was stopped by police in Newbury.

Officers stopped Darren McKie's car at 9pm on October 11 last year, after he was seen driving erratically on the A339.

The 32-year-old was arrested, and during the journey back to the police station, McKie dropped two packages of drugs in the footwell of the police car.

They also found cash on McKie, and a later search at his home revealed cannabis, cocaine and more money.

McKie, of Garrett Close, Kingsclere, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and one count of possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to 38 months' imprisonment for possession of cocaine, and three months for possession of cannabis, to run concurrently.

Designated investigator Sian Betteridge, from Thames Valey Police, said: “I am pleased with the result. The judge was keen to show that we will not tolerate drug supplying in the Thames Valley area.”