Adrian Hearn, of Norreys Avenue, pleased guilty at Reading Crown Court on Friday to one count of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and one count of possession of criminal property.

The 56-year-old was sentenced at the same hearing to two and a half years in prison for the count of possession with intent to supply and one year for the count of possession of criminal property, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Hearn was charged on January 15 after police carried out a warrant at an address in Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, on Thursday, October 23, last year.

Cocaine with a potential street value of £231,450 was seized at the scene, along with a used 25kg drum of benzocaine and £13,440 in cash.

Hearn was arrested the same day.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jon Nicholls, of Force CID based at Reading police station, said: “I hope that Hearn’s conviction and sentence sends out a clear message to anyone considering dealing drugs in the Wokingham borough that you will be caught, you will be prosecuted and you will spend a significant period of time in custody.

“Drugs cause devastating harm to users and their families. Further, many drug users commit crimes in order to fund their habit, so there is a collateral effect. I hope that during his time in prison Hearn will think about the harm he has caused.”