A former Bradford doorman who promoted his illegal drugs business by sending out more than 120 text messages to advertise new stock has been jailed for five years.

Domane James was caught in October, 2010, peddling cocaine, M-cat and cannabis.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the former doorman and barman treated the sale of illegal drugs as his employment, telling customers when good quality consignments had arrived.

James, 24, of Canterbury Street, Canterbury, Bradford, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply after police raided his home. As well as cocaine worth £540, officers seized M-cat, cannabis, cash, scales and dealer bags.

Three months later, he was arrested on bail in a car with drugs concealed in his boxer shorts. More drugs, £390 in cash and incriminating text messages were also found.

James denied possession of cocaine with intent to supply and was convicted by a jury.

He was also sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for three offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said James broke the noses of three Bradford University students after they provoked him outside the Chicken Cottage Takeaway in the city centre at 2am on December 8, 2011.

James’s barrister, Geraldine Kelly, said he funded his cocaine habit by supplying drugs for his dealer.

He had since given up drug dealing and was caring for his grandmother.

Judge David Hatton QC jailed James for three years for the first drugs offences and five years for the second set of charges, the sentences to run concurrently.

He was locked up for an extra three months for attacking the students, making five years’ three months in total.