A Cumbria man was jailed for two years after being stopped in a car containing more than £5,000 worth of drugs.

York Crown Court heard how 33-year-old Christopher Turnbull-Allen, of Westgarth Court, Kirkby Stephen, was driving along the A1 on October 18, 2019 when he was stopped by an officer from North Yorkshire Police.

A sniffer dog searched the car, discovering a ‘wrap’ and a ‘snap bag’ which the officer suspected contained drugs.

A further search uncovered a freezer bag under the passenger seat containing what police referred to as a “large amount”of white powder. Digital scales and an iPhone were also seized.

The investigation was passed-on to Cumbria Police and tests revealed the white powder to be mephedrone, commonly known as MCAT.

The potential street value of the drugs seized was more than £5,000.

In his interview with police, Turnbull-Allen refused to answer any questions at all.

However, at court last Thursday, he pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of mephedrone with intent to supply, receiving a two-year prison sentence.

A spokesman for the North Cumbria Area Drugs Squad said: “We worked closely with our colleagues at North Yorkshire Police who made the initial arrest and the result of that is a north Cumbria drug dealer being jailed for two years.

“The Constabulary takes such offending extremely seriously and will seek to bring anyone involved in the supply of drugs before the courts.

“The drugs squad welcomes any information from the community regarding drug supply - no matter how irrelevant they think it might be.”