A DRUG dealer tried to flush cocaine and heroin down the toilet after police visited a flat where he was preparing them.

But an officer managed to fish the wraps out of the toilet pan and at Bolton Crown Court Michael Hassan was jailed for three years and six months.

Gavin Howie, prosecuting, told how police went to drug addict James Buckley's flat in Claremont Court, Bolton, on November 6, 2017.

During a delay in opening the door a toilet was heard to flush.

"Whilst Buckley admitted the officers, Hassan emerged from the bathroom into the living room area," said Mr Howie.

An officer went into the bathroom where the cistern was still filling.

"He saw a quantity of brown and white wraps in the toilet bowl together with a £20 note," said Mr Howie.

"He donned some gloves and recovered the items."

In the living room paraphernalia such as scales and cellophane were found along with a baseball bat and halberd - a medieval weapon.

Hassan and two others were arrested for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

A phone was found in Hassan's trouser pocket.

"Within that phone are a number of messages," said Mr Howie.

"Messages sent out which suggest that a drug deal is on."

Altogether police recovered five wraps of crack cocaine worth £490 and 21 wraps of heroin valued at up to £1,160.

When questioned Hassan claimed that he had been asleep when officers arrived at the flat.

"He claimed no knowledge of what was going on," said Mr Howie.

But, on the day his trial was due to start, Hassan, aged 28, of Claypool Road, Horwich, pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs with intent to supply.

Andrew Nixon, defending, stressed that, since the offence was committed Hassan, who also has previous convictions, has not committed further crimes.

"He has turned his life around substantially in the meantime," said Mr Nixon, who added that Hassan does voluntary work for charities, is in a long term relationship and has freed himself of drugs.

Judge Graeme Smith was told that Hassan had been persuaded to start dealing drugs in order to pay off his own drug debt.

Sentencing Hassan, Judge Smith told him: "The supply of drugs in society is something which causes all manner of problems and leads to very serious physical and mental health problems and to the commission of further crimes.

"You were addicted and, as a consequence, went on to accept and offer to supply drugs to others, thus continuing the problem."