A former soldier from Leiston who was found to have a block of cocaine with a potential street value of more £80,000 during a police raid at his home has been jailed for five years.

Officers went to 26-year-old Mason Squirrell’s home on September 2 last year with a search warrant and in addition to the pistol and 1kg of cocaine they also found a knuckleduster and a quantity of cannabis, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Squirrell, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said he had served in the Parachute Regiment for five years and had traits of post-traumatic stress disorder.

She described the pistol found at his home as a “dangerous firearm” and said compatible ammunition was also found.

The judge said Squirrell had been unemployed when he came out of the army and had been put under pressure to work off a debt by looking after the pistol and drugs.

East Anglian Daily Times: Squirrell dealt drugs after leaving the armySquirrell dealt drugs after leaving the army (Image: Suffolk police)

Squirrell, of Seaward Avenue, Leiston, admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine, possession of a firearm, namely a pistol, and possession of an offensive weapon - a knuckle duster.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said the pistol had been manufactured with a blocked barrel but at some stage the blocked section had been replaced with a metal tube.

He said the block of cocaine, which had a purity of 76%, had a wholesale value of £25,000-£30,000 and a potential street value of £80,000-£100,000.

Mr Crimp said the cannabis had a wholesale value of £400 and a street value of more than £600.

Charles Myatt, for Squirrell, said his client had no intention of using the pistol and had been put under pressure to look after it and the drugs.

The court heard that while Squirrell had been in Norwich Prison he had completed training as a Samaritan and was described as an asset to the prison’s listening community.