A former school volunteer worker has been jailed for six years after police seized £56,363 of cocaine and a stash of cash from his home.

Robert Jefferson, 22, became hooked on Class A drugs when he failed to find a job after training in information technology, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Police officers called to his house in Chapel Street, Eccleshill, Bradford, after complaints of noise found 1.4kg of cocaine, a quantity of Class B drugs and £1,120 in cash.

Jefferson pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs with intent to supply on November 14 last year.

The court heard that police, who broke into the house when no one answered the door, seized the cocaine from a shoe box, along with scales, cutting agent and plastic bags.

There were 13 separate bagged deals of cocaine as well as a quantity of MMC and cannabis.

Jefferson told officers he bought half a kilo of cocaine and mixed it with a cutting agent to make into deals to sell. He said he was on benefits and needed the money to live on.

Prosecutor Bashir Ahmed said Jefferson was convicted in June last year of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

His solicitor advocate, Adam Walker, said Jefferson set out in life as a hard-working and responsible young man. He gained an IT qualification and did voluntary work at Laisterdyke School, sharing his computer skills.

When he could not find work, he began to drift and started using recreational drugs. He was addicted to cocaine at the time of the police raid on his home.

The judge, Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker, told Jefferson: “This was a well organised and clearly established arrangement to cut, bag and sell Class A drugs.”

He made a Proceeds of Crime Act ruling that Jefferson’s total benefit from his criminal activity was £57,483 and his available assets were the £1,120 seized and still held by the police.