A SOUTHAMPTON drug dealer has been jailed after stuffing thousands of pounds worth of drugs in a washing machine.

Louis George Irving was stopped by police after his vehicle was spotted “weaving” in the road, a court heard.

Following an initial search, officers found cannabis worth £110 stashed down his trousers.

They later searched the 29-year-old’s home address in Leighton Road, where they discovered a number of bags of cannabis in the washing machine, estimated to be worth around £2,000 each.

More than £2,000 in cash was also seized.

During a separate incident, officers stopped a vehicle driven by Irving and found two phones and eleven bags of cocaine.

They were worth between £275 and £550, along with ketamine worth about £260 and bags of cannabis worth around £90 each.

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Appearing at Southampton Crown Court this week, Irving was sentenced for two charges of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B.

He was also sentenced for a charge of possession with intent to supply a class A drug, and possession of criminal property.

Prosecuting, Ellie Sheahan, told the court that Irving has multiple previous convictions, including two for possession with intent to supply.

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But defence barrister, Richard Onslow said: “He is an intelligent man who unfortunately contracted a habit of cocaine.

“He has been in custody for some six of seven weeks. He knows he will be spending a considerable period in prison.”

He added that Irving was selling drugs in order to facilitate his own addiction and that he aspires to study a degree in accounting and turn his life around.

But the judge, Recorder James Bromige, said Irving must have had a “significant role in the chain” and that he was on bail at the time of the offences.

He jailed Irving for four years and nine months for the offences that happened in September last year and February 24 this year.

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