A self-confessed drug addict who was caught red-handed with more than $200,000 of cocaine and heroin as well as $10,000 in cash has been jailed.

Dwayne Gilbert was detained after officers spotted him sat in a car outside a supermarket counting out the money.

He later claimed during trial that he had found the stash of money and drugs buried on the Railway Trail and planned on using the drugs for his own personal use.

Yesterday in Supreme Court, Gilbert, who has several previous convictions for possessing drugs, was jailed for six years.

He had previously been found guilty of possessing cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. But jurors cleared him of the more serious charge of intending to supply the drugs to other people. The 53-year-old was also convicted of possessing a set of scales for use in the preparation of drugs and possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves branded the case “an unusual one” remarking: “It is the first case or the only case in which such a large quantity of drugs were found in possession of a defendant together with such a large quantity of cash, that yet resulted in a guilty verdict to simple possession instead of possession with intent to supply.”

Gilbert was arrested on August 12, 2014, after officers spotted him counting out large quantities of cash as he sat in a car in the Arnold’s car park in Pembroke.

They also recovered drugs in his pocket and in a ruck sack that also contained $11,928 in cash. Detectives from the drugs unit then descended on his Southampton home and discovered over 500g of cocaine packaged in ziplock bags in his bedroom.

Gilbert stood trial in February and admitted he was a drug addict. However, he maintained he had dug up the stash of money and drugs after seeing suspicious lights on the Railway Trail. He maintained that he had no intention of passing the drugs on to anyone else.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing Gilbert apologised for his actions.

“I want to apologise to the courts and society for my actions, and also my family,” he said.

Judge Greaves imposed sentences of three years and six months on the two charges relating to the drugs found on Gilbert and in his car when he was arrested.

He sentenced him to six years imprisonment for the drugs found at his Southampton home and he imposed sentences of 12 months each for possessing drugs equipment and the proceeds of crime.

He ordered that all the five sentences should run concurrently.