A London drug dealer has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of peddling crack cocaine and cocaine in Ipswich.

During his Ipswich Crown Court trial self-confessed cannabis dealer Raymond Downie had denied planning to sell hundreds of pounds worth of the Class A drugs found hidden under a sofa during a police raid at a house in the town’s Rendlesham Court.

However, the 24-year-old was convicted of possessing cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to supply on March 26 last year.

Prior to his trial he had admitted possessing the cocaine and crack cocaine as well as 1.49g of ecstasy.

Downie, of Nash Road, London, also pleaded guilty to possessing 52g of herbal cannabis with intent to supply.

Downie had claimed he had paid £350 for the cocaine after a gambling win and was going to use it himself.

Although admitted dealing in cannabis he denied text messages found on his mobile phone related to him selling cocaine as well.

Police who searched an address in Rendlesham Court found 6.32g of crack cocaine with a potential street value of £600 and 2.3g of cocaine in powder form with a potential street value of £100, under a sofa.

Officers also found ecstasy tablets, cannabis and more than £1,600 cash at the premises and in Downie’s possession.

Giving evidence during his trial Downie claimed he had bought the cocaine for his own use the day before his arrest.