A “SIGNIFICANT” dealer who supplied drugs to people on two Southampton estates has been jailed.

Delano Johnson, aka Blocks, pleaded guilty to two counts of making offers to supply the “devastating” drugs cocaine and heroin to locals on Millbrook and Lordshill.

Johnson, 22, was found sending text messages to clients from two different mobile phones when police searched him at his partner’s mother’s house in Paignton Road, Southampton.

Southampton Crown Court heard that officers searched Johnson in June 2016 and confiscated more than £300 in cash he had on him.

However, prosecutor Timothy Akers said that after officers looked through Johnson’s phone they found nearly 50 different messages to potential customers offering deals on different drugs.

Mr Akers said: “The messages read ‘Blocks is about with fat size and good deals. Three for £25 until midnight’.

He added that the drugs were also referred to as “banging stuff”.

Mitigating, Ms Wong told the court that Johnson was part of an operation that evolved from London which would supply residents in Lordshill and Millbrook with drugs. Johnson’s role was labelled as that of a “foot soldier”.

The court heard that Johnson had been committing offences, including assaulting an officer and possessing a bladed article, since he was 15-years-old, shortly after his father was murdered in Jamaica in 2009 which Ms Wong said had a “profound affect”.

She added Johnson had shown “extreme remorse” since the arrest.

In sentencing, Judge Christopher Parker QC said Johnson’s role was significant in the operation and that the defendant was looking to make a financial gain.

He added: “You were concerned in supplying at street level heroin and cocaine both of which are devastating drugs.

“A lot of people die almost every day as a result of misusing class A drugs and are supplied them by people like you.

“And the misery it brings to those using the drugs, the families and many other people is enormous.”

Following the case, detective constable Marie Greer, leading the investigation, said: “We are pleased that another person involved in the supply of drugs in Southampton is now off the streets.

“Johnson was incriminated by text messages on his mobile phones which proved he was involved in dealing cocaine and heroin.

“Drugs and drug-related activity bring harm and misery to our communities. We work hard with partner agencies to reduce drug use in the city, protecting those who are most at risk, and to identify and convict the most prolific offenders.”

Johnson, whose address was given as HMP Peterborough, was sentenced to three years jail. He will serve at least half before he can apply for parole.