POLICE warned cyber drug-dealers they would be caught as the area’s first Facebook cocaine pedlar starts an 18-month jail term.

Grant Raw’s computer had been seized by officers after they raided his Barrowford home and found cocaine with a street value of almost £2,000.

Officers looked at Raw’s mobile phone and laptop and, on the computer, found Facebook chat in which the defendant offered to supply the drug.

Raw claimed the drugs found at his house were for himself and a few friends who were existing users, and that it was only commercial because the selling funded his own use of drugs.

At Burnley Crown Court, Raw, 22, of Higher Causeway, admitted three allegations of offering to supply cocaine or ecstasy, in May and July, possessing cocaine with intent to supply on July 3, and attempting to possess ecstasy with intent to supply, on the same date.

He had no previous convictions.

Sentencing, Recorder Michael Chambers, QC, told the defendant he might think it was an acceptable thing to do with friends, but it caused mayhem.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said on July 3 last year, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home, which belonged to his mother.

A total of 63 grams – just more than two ounces – of cocaine was found in the defendant’s bedroom.

The street value of the drugs was £1,890.

Raw was arrested and interviewed and stated the drugs seized belonged to him and were for his own use.

He said he was going to the Beat Herder festival, at Gisburn, in July, had agreed to buy two ounces of cocaine and was going to sell drugs to 10 friends.

Miss Statham had told the court the large amount of cocaine appeared to be more than Raw and a “few” friends could realistically consume over a weekend, and the text and Facebook messages suggested previous dealing on a more commercial basis.

She claimed to the court: “The Facebook chat indicates that the defendant was prepared to sell ‘dealer’ weights and would be prepared to dilute the cocaine.”

Police officers had swooped on Raw’s home after an anonymous tip-off from Crimestoppers.

PC Dave Cottam, from Pennine Division’s Targeted Crime Team, said: “This is the first time we have used Facebook to prosecute a prolific drug dealer.”