A DEALER who kept part of his crack cocaine supply stuffed in his sock has been jailed for five years and seven months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Shaun Ross, 41, also had more than £800 cash on him when he was arrested by police on two separate occasions.

The defendant claimed his partner was being pestered over a drugs debt and he had the crack cocaine because he had agreed to work for a supplier to pay it off.

Ross, of Woodbine Road, Burnley, admitted possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply last December and in August.

The court heard the two offences meant Ross had three convictions for supplying hard drugs and in line with sentencing guidelines he had to be given a mimimum seven years behind bars, although the judge would reduce this by 20 per cent because he had admitted the latest charges.

He has already served a six-year, four-month prison sentence for possessing drugs with intent to supply in February 2001.

Judge Beverley Lunt warned him: “Next time, if you continue to deal in drugs, even at a low level, you will go to prison for 10 years and then 12 years after that.”

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court on December 6 last year, police were in Adamson Street, Burnley, looking for someone in connection with a burglary in the early hours.

Ross was stopped and by the side of him on the ground was a plastic bag containing 13 wraps of cocaine. They were seized and he was arrested.

The defendant’s house was searched and a roll of plastic bags was taken from the house. They matched the wraps found near to him and when he was taken into custody it was found he had £700 on him. Miss Statham said the defendant’s DNA was discovered on the wraps on the floor.

The prosecutor also told the court that on August 21, police stopped Ross on Cog Lane, Burnley, because they thought he was acting suspiciously.

He was found in possession of two yellow blocks wrapped in clear bags, which were in his sock. He told the officers it was crack cocaine and a further 15 wraps were discovered when he was searched at the police station. This time he had £120 in cash which he claimed was legitimate.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Ross was concerned about his family and about his partner and her welfare.

When he committed the offence in August, she was being pestered by drug dealers, Mr Hackett said.