Leeds drug dealer used dark web to order packages of cocaine and MDMA to his home from Amsterdam

Jacob Gaunt was arrested after police intercepted drugs packages from the Netherlands in June 2019.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers went to a house on Lulworth Grove, Cross Gates, and found large amounts of creatine which was to be used as a cutting agent for high purity drugs.

'Business cards' advertising the sale of drugs were also found along with mobile phones which contained messages indicating that Gaunt had been involved in drug dealing for almost two years.

Computers seized from the property were also analysed and it was discovered that Gaunt had made internet searches on how to package class A drugs.

Search terms included "how cocaine is pressed" and "how do you know when you have got good coke."

There was also evidence that the 26-year-old had accessed the dark web to source drugs.

Gaunt, of Town End, Garforth, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and two of evasion of prohibition on drugs.

The offending took place between August 2017 and June 2019.

He was jailed for four and a half years.

The court heard Gaunt pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage and has no previous convictions.

He managed to set up his own legitimate business after being arrested.

"It is always sad when the offences are as serious as this.

"For whatever reason, you decided to set yourself up with your own drug dealing operation.

"You had access to the dark web to buy drugs and deal with orders from people who wanted to sell you them."