A drug runner who was found in possession of 27 bags of cocaine following his arrest in Bury St Edmunds has been jailed for two years and three months.

Hannan Demir, who had entered the UK illegally,  was driving a grey Audi A3 when police officers detained him for a drug search on February 13 at 8pm and took him to Bury St Edmunds police investigation unit, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Five bags of cocaine were found in his jacket pocket during a strip search and a further 22 bags of the drug were found during a search of his home.

His mobile phone was found to contain messages which showed he’d been a drug runner using the postcode delivery method, said Callum Munday, prosecuting.

He was also found in possession of £810 cash which he claimed was the proceeds from the sale of a mobile phone.

Demir, 29, of no fixed address, admitted two offences of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, namely £810 cash.

The court heard that Demir, who has no previous convictions in the UK or Turkey, became involved in drug dealing in order to pay off a £10,000 debt which he’d run up in Turkey by borrowing money to set up a barber's business which failed.