When police searched Kyle Darren William Blackburn and found three valium tablets on him, they didn’t realise this was simply the tip of the iceberg.

In fact the 26-year-old was being investigated in relation to a separate matter but the find led police to a cache of drugs - some mail order - at his home address.

At his sentencing hearing, James Robinson, representing the prosecution, said Blackburn told police the valium was for him to use when he was hung over. But when they searched his home they found weighing scales, £3,300 in cash, along with various items of vegetable matter, powder and tablets distributed in a cash box, tin and a brown cardboard parcel. Investigations established the parcel had arrived through the post from Birkenhead at the end of October and was signed for by the defendant.

The drugs haul included 28.5 grams and 13.1 grams of cannabis bush, worth around £516 and £262 respectively, 27.15 grams of cocaine, valued at between £1,357 and £1,900, MDMA, ketamin, valium and four consignments of steroids.

When police interviewed Blackburn, he told them the 28.5 grams of cannabis were to supply for profit but everything else was for his own use.

He said he was simply looking after the cocaine for an unnamed third party for a couple of days, with the intention of returning it to him.

Mr Robinson asked for a forfeiture and destruction order for the drugs and related paraphernalia and a confiscation order for the £3,300 cash.

Blackburn, previously of Ashbourne Avenue in Douglas, admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis, both with intent to supply, simple possession of MDMA, cannabis, ketamin, valium and zopaclone.

He also admitted four charges of importing steroids to the island and possessing criminal property, namely the £3,300 in cash, all on Friday, December 2, last year.

Defending him, Stephen Wood drew the court’s attention to the number of Blackburn’s supporters in the public gallery, his co-operation and the absence of any previous convictions.

He told the court Blackburn had been a young boy when he was first involved with substance misuse, adding: ’That went on for a long time, becoming normal to him and he lost sight of the consequences of his involvement.’

Passing sentence, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie told him: ’The custody threshold has been passed by a distance and there is nothing to warrant suspension of the sentence. You are going to pay a high price for your involvement. Class A drugs destroy lives and communities and the court has set out very hefty penalties for those involved in their trafficking.

’You will have plenty of time in prison to think about your lifestyle choices and seek assistance with alcohol and substance misuse. I hope you make the right choices.’

He was sentenced to a total of four years and five months in prison. A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs and a confiscation order for the cash.