A COCAINE dealer from Cradley was nabbed by police for driving under the influence of drugs and carrying a banned weapon in his vehicle.

Thomas Oglesby was already on bail for selling the Class A drug to friends when police officers spotted him driving a Vauxhall car "inappropriately," Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He ran off after being forced to stop, but the 22-year-old was caught after a short chase and tests revealed he had double the permitted level of cannabis in his blood.

Howard Searle, prosecuting, said a prohibited CS gas canister was found in the car.

Oglesby, of Chaucer House, Severn Road, admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, two charges of possessing the controlled drug and two of possessing cannabis.

He further admitted driving under the influence of drugs, two charges of having no licence, two of having no insurance and also possessing a prohibited weapon.

He was jailed for three years and banned from driving for a year by Judge Nicholas Cartwright, who said his cocaine street dealing represented an "established and substantial" operation.

Mr Searle said police officers had been tipped off when they first stopped Oglesby driving a BMW and found a small amount of cannabis.

A search of his former home in Beecher Road East, Cradley, uncovered £20 worth of cocaine and at his girlfriend's home they recovered 37 street deals worth £740.

Nicole Steers, for Oglesby, whose partner is expecting their first child, said he turned to cocaine dealing as a means of paying off debts and was ashamed and embarrassed.