An Alderley Edge drug dealer who was caught hiding cocaine in his underwear has been jailed for almost three years.

The class A drug dealer has been jailed as a result of an officer deciding to stop and search a car in the village.

Reece Gayle (26), of Fairfields Road in Irlam, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drug cocaine.

Mr Gayle, who was nicked in Alderley Edge, also admitted charges of possession of criminal property (£1,575 in cash) and possession of class B drug cannabis.

Gayle was pulled over in the Heyes Lane area of Alderley Edge at around 10pm on Tuesday 13 April.

An officer on patrol stopped and searched Gayle's silver BMW due to suspicions regarding his driving and his subsequent account of where he had been and where he was going.

Remnants of cannabis were found in the car.

A decision was made to take Gayle to custody for a strip search.

He was found to have eight snap bags of cocaine in his underwear.

The street value of the drugs seized is estimated to be between £160 and £400.

Prior to the search messages relating to drug dealing were found on Gayle's mobile phone.

His home was also subsequently searched, with officers finding the £1,575 in cash there, as well as a small quantity of cannabis, three scales and large bundles of snap bags.

Gayle was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 2 June.

He was jailed for two years and eight months.

Gayle refused to answer any questions in custody, but he pleaded guilty to the offences he was charged with when he appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Thursday 15 April.

PC Sam Needham, who led the investigation as part of his role of policing the Alderley Edge area at Macclesfield Local Policing Unit, said: "This case emphasises the importance of the police's power to stop and search people and vehicles they suspect to be involved in crime.

"It is an essential tool for tackling crime and making communities safer.

"As a result of our ability to stop and search Reece Gayle after he was witnessed driving suspiciously in Alderley Edge, a class A drug dealer and a quantity of cocaine have been removed from our streets.

"It is a class A drug for a reason.

"Cocaine causes untold damage to the lives of both those who use the drug and become dependent on it and the wider community who suffer from the resulting crime.

"I hope this case, and the fact that Gayle is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions, deters others from both coming to Cheshire to commit crimes and getting involved in the supply of cocaine or any other class A drug.

"Such drugs have a hugely detrimental impact on communities."

On top of his custodial sentence, Gayle was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.

Chief Inspector Dave Moores, also of Macclesfield LPU, said: "Drug dealing will simply not be tolerated in Cheshire.

"While this investigation has now concluded, our fight against illegal drugs, and those who supply them, continues.

"Cheshire is, and will remain, a hostile environment for criminals.

"Intelligence supplied by members of the public is crucial to effective policing and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch.

"You will be listened to and we will investigate the matter."

You can report suspected drug dealing to Cheshire Constabulary directly by calling 101 or giving the details online through this webpage.

Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Class A drugs are considered by the government to be the most harmful, so Wilmslow Nub News praises the danger averted by the action of these two officers.

The locking up of this Alderley Edge drug dealer was part of Cheshire Constabulary's IMPACT campaign. More information can be found here.

Please consider following Wilmslow's online newspaper on your favourite social media platform.

You can find us on Facebook or Twitter.