A CALNE drug dealer has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison.

Paul Michael Fisher, 25, of Harrier Close, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court today after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possessing a firearm and money laundering.

Fisher was initially arrested by officers in Calne on March 29, 2014, on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

When police examined his mobile phone at the time, it was found to contain a large number of messages offering to sell cocaine.

He was later found to be unlawfully in possession of an air rifle.

A financial investigation identified that Fisher had been paid in excess of £59,000 in a nine month period that was unexplained income.

A financial restraint order directed by the crown court judge was ignored by Fisher and he later sold one of his cars, a Mercedes, for £13,300 cash.

PC Joe Shanklin, from the Dedicated Crime Team, who led the investigation, said: “Paul Fisher lived a comfortable and expensive lifestyle with high value cars, holidays in the Caribbean, and had all the latest gadgets and mobile phones.

"He has been leading a lifestyle which honest, hardworking people within our community work hard to achieve. His lifestyle was funded from class A drug dealing and defrauding the public purse.

“Due to overwhelming evidence of Fisher’s ill-gotten gains, a confiscation hearing will be held in September where he will be deprived of the assets he has gained through his persistent criminality.

“I am pleased with the sentence given out today. This case was an excellent example of community led policing where local intelligence has been provided to the local Neighbourhood Policing Team that has helped remove a class A drug dealer from the streets of Wiltshire.

"I hope this sentence sends a clear message to other members of our society concerned in drug supply. You will be caught and justice will be done.

“Drugs ruin lives and have a negative impact on our communities. Community intelligence is very important and is a key part of identifying those responsible for drug supply and drug related crime." 

Wiltshire Police ask that anyone who has information on those involved in this type of crime contact police by calling 101, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.