A man jailed for ten years for possessing $212,000-worth of cocaine had six months added to his sentence for making a threatening gesture to a Police officer as he left Supreme Court.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves caught Oshane Darrell in the act, and had him brought straight back into the dock where he found him to be in contempt of court.

Darrell, 29, admitted at an earlier hearing to possessing 679 grams of freebase cocaine — commonly known as crack — with intent to supply, and also possessing drug equipment in the form of a pair of scales.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the court Police raided the Seawall Drive, Sandys, home of the defendant and Jennifer Medeiros on the evening of November 22, 2002. Officers found cocaine in the kitchen and bathroom, along with a pair of scales with cocaine residue on them. A large quantity of cash was also discovered in an upstairs room.

Darrell was arrested, said Mr. Mahoney, and admitted that the items belonged to him, telling the Police the matter had nothing to do with Ms Medeiros.

"The defendant was involved in the drug trade for his own personal profit," Mr. Mahoney told the court, which heard that Darrell is single, and has a three-old-daughter.

He has previous convictions for possession of cannabis in 2003, and aiding and abetting the supply of heroin in 1997.

Stressing that his client is a father, defence lawyer Edward Bailey pointed out that the latter offence was committed more than a decade ago, and the cannabis charge was a relatively minor one for which he was fined $200.

He described Darrell as of "pretty good character".

The defendant himself told the court: "I hope that I can be here for my daughter pretty soon and my family. Sorry for all this."

Jailing him for ten years, Mr. Justice Greaves warned that the prevalence of hard drugs such as cocaine were a menace in Bermuda and said Darrell posed a threat to society.

Both Darrell and Ms Medeiros were found guilty of possessing the cocaine in question by a jury in 2005, and sentenced to ten years and seven years respectively.

These convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal last year, and a re-trial ordered. However, after Darrell pleaded guilty and was sentenced, Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney offered no further evidence in the case of Ms Medeiros, meaning her name is completely clear.

On Monday as the parties involved in proceedings left the court, Mr. Justice Greaves suddenly called to the prison guards: "Bring that Darrell man back here!"

The judge explained he saw the defendant approach a Police officer sitting in the public gallery on his way out and make a gesture like he was about to hit him.

He found Darrell to be in contempt of court for the incident, which he deemed to be assault because it gave the officer reason to believe he was about to suffer violence.

Darrell apologised — but went on to claim that the sentence he had been given was "harsh" and the Police officer was "smirking" at him after it was passed.

Mr. Justice Greaves responded by adding the extra six months to his time behind bars, telling Darrell: "The sentence was not harsh, and regardless of how you feel about the sentence, there's no justification for making any threatening gestures."