A drug dealer who was caught in New Cross has been sentenced to five years in jail.

Mason Francis, 27, pleaded guilty on March 11 to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

On February 9, officers were on patrol in New Cross where they stopped and later searched a car being driven by Mason with a woman in the passenger seat.

Officers found a large bag of cannabis as well as £550 in cash.

Both Mason, from Bermondsey, and the passenger were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply.

Officers then searched their home addresses and found several more large bags of cannabis as well as a number of capsules of cocaine.

They also found a further £990 in cash.

At the time when Mason was stopped, he on licence after being sentenced in July 2012 to 12 years in prison for possessing a firearm and possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

His licence was recalled and he was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his 12-year sentence.

The 25-year-old woman arrested with Mason was released under investigation pending further enquires.

Detective Inspector Adam King said: “Drugs is the main driver of violence in London. The removal of drugs and their dealers from the streets will severely disrupt the illegal supply of controlled drugs, which would have caused untold misery to the local community.

"We are committed to reducing the supply of drugs and I am pleased that this man must now serve a substantial jail sentence.”