Jail for cocaine possession

A Stockton man has been jailed for ten years after been found guilty of possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply.

The term was given to Gary McLoughlin after he was convicted at Teesside Crown Court of possessing a kilogram of cocaine with intent to supply.

McLoughlin, 37, of Newlands Avenue, Norton, had denied the offence but was found guilty.

He was arrested in December 2002 in Darlington after a kilo's worth of cocaine, with a street value of over £65,000 was found in his holdall.

After the case, Detective Inspector Shane Sellers from Cleveland Police said the force was pleased with the verdict.

It gave a clear message that drugs and dealers would not be tolerated in Cleveland.

The jury heard McLoughlin had been found in possession of the drugs haul after being arrested on the platform at Darlington Railway Station.

The court heard the cocaine found in his possession was of a very high purity.