Telford drug courier had cocaine worth £80,000

A 31-year-old Telford man described as an "unpaid courier" who admitted possessing about £80,000 worth of cocaine with intent to supply was today jailed for two years.

David Maloney was said to be at the "bottom of the scale", when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today on drugs charges.

Maloney, of Arundel Close, Randlay, was in court after admitting two offences of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

He was sentenced to a total of two years in jail and Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Maloney although the amount in his possession was "considerable" he understood he had had troubled times and took into account early guilty pleas.

The court heard the drugs were found after a covert police operation in Trench Lock, Telford.

Mr Mark Linkins, prosecuting, said Maloney was seen carrying a white brick- sized package.

He said police saw Maloney going in and out of a building before arresting him. The brick was found to be 983g of cocaine worth about £40,000.

Maloney told police he had bought two packages from Shifnal and the second had been hidden in a wheelie bin at his home.

Mr Andrew Baker, for Maloney, said: "His role was a courier at the bottom end of the scale, he was an unpaid courier who was in debt."