A Merseyside man involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine in Carlisle has been jailed for three years.

Thomas Powell, 23, of Merseyside but no fixed address, was sentenced after admitting a charge of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

He was caught after an officer approached Powell as he was riding a mountain bike on a footpath alongside the river Caldew, behind Lidl in Carlisle on February 26.

The officer identified himself and asked Powell to stop but he jumped off his bike and ran.

Powell tried to climb a fence to get to the river but was caught and detained.

He was found to be in possession of a plastic pot containing numerous wraps of brown and white substances. He was also carrying over £500 in cash and two mobile phones.

The wraps were tested and returned results indicating heroin and cocaine. In total there were 58 wraps of cocaine and 15 of heroin.

Detective Constable James Aiston said: “This latest conviction continues to send out a strong message that Cumbria is no soft touch and that those who travel to the county to deal will be caught and will be sent to prison.

“Such offending can cause great harm to communities. However, convictions such as this can seriously impact on the activity of those drug dealers and make the county a safer place for all.”