A MAN has been jailed after bags of drugs were found hidden in his car and more than £16,500 of cash was discovered at his home.

Thomas Mason, 32, of Heather Place, Queensbury, was stopped by police on Clayton Road, Bradford, after he was earlier spotted driving too fast on Hollingwood Drive, Great Horton, at around 11.30pm on November 7, 2020.

When stopped, officers were suspicious of Mason’s behaviour and, following a search of his vehicle, found snap bags of cocaine in the driver’s door. Bags of cocaine were also found in the fingers of a black glove found in the vehicle.

Cash was also found in every pocket of Mason’s coat and trousers. Two Nokia mobile phones were also found in the vehicle. Bags of drugs and a mobile phone were found in the leather cloth bag around the gear stick of the vehicle.

He recorded a negative drug wipe test at the scene and was arrested.

Mason was a heavy user of cocaine at the time of his arrest, Bradford Crown Court heard today (April 13).

A search of Mason’s home address followed, where more cannabis, cocaine and mobile phones were found.

The drugs were discovered in the basement and a first-floor bedroom of the property.

A total of £16,565 in cash was seized at the property, while a total of 109.53 grams of cannabis was found, which had a street value of £2,828. 

A total of 50.72 grams of cocaine was also seized, whic had a street value of £2,537.

Mason, who had previously worked as a mechanic, was not paying income tax at the time of the offences and was paying back a drugs debt which he had wracked up with dealers.

Mason’s mitigating counsel added: “He became embroiled in the drugs world.

“He found himself in a world that, frankly, he was not cut out for.”

Mason was jailed for a total of 37 months - three years and one month - for possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. He pleaded guilty to all charges. 

He was told he will be released on licence after serving half of his sentence in custody.

Sentencing, Recorder Paul Reid told Mason: “You were a cocaine user whose debt had gone out of control.”