A DRUG dealer who led a luxurious lifestyle has been locked up for five years.

When police stopped Richard Connell, 44, he insisted the £875-worth of cocaine and £560 cash he was carrying belonged to him.

But on the same day, on June 30 2007, police found traces of cocaine on electronic weighing scales at Connell’s home in Mendip Crescent, Westcliff.

The 44-year-old was arrested again four months later and this time cannabis resin, worth £10 and £1,145, was discovered in his car.

Herbal cannabis was seized from his home, along with another set of electronic scales, and “dealer” lists, which were hidden inside a safe disguised as an electric socket.

Text messages relating to drug deals were also found on his two mobile phones.

Jailing the defendant at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Rupert Overbury told him: “No doubt your dealing was extensive in nature.

“The lists which were recovered contained numerous names and figures owed to you. I sentence you as a successful, well-established street dealer.

“Those who make this their occupation can only expect to receive long sentences when they come before the court.”

At his trial in February, Connell, who has previous convictions for violence and dishonesty, as well as possessing cocaine and cannabis, said he was a heavy cocaine user and denied peddling drugs.

He claimed he traded in second-hand goods and the alleged “dealer” lists were just his record of how much money people owed him.

But the jury rejected his defence and convicted Connell of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis resin and cannabis.

In his sentencing, Judge Overbury also said the fact Connell owned two sports cars and a 4x4 vehicle were evidence of the “luxurious lifestyle” his criminal activities had afforded him.