A Barrow man has today (September 27) been sentenced to three years in prison for drugs offences.

Barry Nelson, 46, of High White Close, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after previously pleading guilty for possession with intent to supply ‘crack’ cocaine.

Nelson was a passenger in a white Ford Focus stopped by police on the A590 near Dalton-in-Furness on June 1st 2016. After refusing to be fully searched, officers believed that the offender had drugs secreted on his person.

He was conveyed to Furness General Hospital under police guard, where he was found to have a large bag containing an unknown substance and a small bag containing small crystals secreted on him.

The large bag was found to be 65 individual deals of ‘crack’ cocaine, with a street value of around £650.

Sergeant Jamie Eaton said: “The investigation of Class A drugs supply is a priority for Cumbria Police and the sentence handed to Nelson should act as a deterrent to those wishing to involve themselves in such a criminal activity.

“We will continue to proactively investigate those involved in drug supply in order to bring those offenders to justice and to protect the public from the harm they cause to our communities.”