A convicted drugs supplier from the Waterside area of Derry complained to police about the "poor low grade quality" of cocaine which officers found during a search of his home.
Hugh Gerard McConnell (32), from Kingsmere Gardens, was jailed for eighteen months at the city's Crown Court this week when he pleaded guilty to seven charges of either possessing or supplying cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and diazepem.
The c
ourt was told the drugs were found in McConnell's home last June and August after the police called at his house following domestic incident reports by McConnell's partner.
A prosecution barrister said that McConnell, who had 118 previous criminal convictions, complained to the police after his arrest about the 7 percent purity quality of the cocaine seized.
"He complained to the police after his arrest and during his interview about the low quality of the drug. He thought he was getting something better", the barrister told Judge Desmond Marrinan Q.C.
The police also found in the house weighing scales, a crossbow and bolts and two samurai swords. McConnell told the police that all of the drugs were for his own personal use but admitted supplying the 876 diazepem tablets to his partner, who is now pregnant with their first child.
Defence counsel Ciaran Mallon described McConnell as "a coke addict" and said he had already served seven months in custody on remand.
McConnell was also ordered to serve two years on probation after his prison release.
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