A COCAINE dealer caught in the act of preparing drugs for sale in Burnley will be behind bars for three years.

When police raided a flat in Colne Road, Burnley, in January, they said they found Jonathon Smith, 23, in the process of preparing the Class A drugs for sale.

Officers recovered 23 grams of cocaline valued in the region of £1,000, as well as £700 cash, inside the flat.

Smith was arrested at the scene and later charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Detectives hailed the three-year jail term handed to Smith at Burnley Crown Court.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Sgt Martin Kennedy, of Burnley Police, said: “This man was trading in misery and clearly making a tidy profit from it.

“When we executed the warrant, we believe he was actually in the process of preparing drugs for sale so we know our action will have had an immediate impact upon drug supply in Burnley.

“The fact we probably caught him red-handed just goes to show how spot on we are with our information gathering and targeting.”

DS Kennedy said the result sent out a clear message that drug-deal-ing will not be toler-ated and that offenders will be caught.

He said: “There really is no escape for those peddling misery and trading in drugs.

"It is clearly a matter of when and not if, we catch up with them.”

Smith pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply at an earlier hearing.

To report suspected drug-related activity call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.