The courthouse at Bishop Street

Peter Anthony Fox, of Moss Park, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply between August 24 and 28, 2014.

The 30-year-old also admitted being concerned in an offer to supply class A and class B drugs.

Derry Crown Court heard that a vehicle drive by Fox came to the attention of police on the Lenamore Road after a glass bottle was thrown out of a window and onto a grass banking.

Officers spoke to the occupants and believed that the 30-year-old was involved in the supply of drugs.

Fox was searched and officers found a bag of white powder in a wallet.

They also searched inside the car and found cannabis in a compartment of the vehicle.

Fox was arrested and during police interview claimed the cocaine and wallet was left in his car by a friend.

He said he knew nothing about the cannabis but claimed his friends would regularly be in his car and would smoke cannabis there.

The 30-year-old told police there might be messages relating to drugs on his phone but said he ‘didn’t sell drugs any more’.

The court heard messages found on the phone showed Fox was selling drugs. Some of them contained information about how much cocaine he was selling and the price he was selling it for.

He also replied to a message to confirm ecstasy had arrived and he could sell 50 of them for £250.

It was revealed Fox sent a message to 17 people offering to sell them the ‘finest ganja known to humanity’.

The court was told the 30-year-old has four previous convictions for drugs offences, including one for possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

He is assessed at being at a ‘higher level than a street dealer’.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said it is ‘concerning’ that Fox has ‘established contacts he can purchase drugs from’.

He added: Clearly his own drug use has affected his physical and mental health. One would have hoped this, and his previous drug convictions, would have deterred him from acting in the way he has’.

The judge imposed a determinate sentence of three years, half of which will be spent in custody and the remaining half on licence.