A 'cuckoo' drug dealer has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he repeatedly stabbed the man whose flat he was hoping to use as a base for his trade.

Stephane Yaba was days out of prison when he came from South London to try and take over the Swindon market for selling heroin in crack cocaine.

But after falling out with the local addict he wanted to provide him with somewhere to live, the 24-year-old plunged a knife into him six times in a violent attack.

And when 59 wraps of crack cocaine fell out of the Londoner's pants at the police station he told lie after lie as he tried to save his skin.

As he was questioned by police he said he had tried to help Scott Cadder, who was being attacked by three drug dealers who he claimed carried out the stabbing.

French born Yaba added that the 30-year-old victim had made up a story accusing him of doing it because he was afraid of the real culprits.

And he also claimed the 'dealers' had forced him to take and hide the drugs which were found on him, having told him and Mr Cadder to sell them to pay off a debt.

But giving evidence at his trial, where he denied GBH with intent, he accepted he had made up the story he told detectives and that the drugs were his.

Speaking from the witness box he claimed the truth was that the three men also attacked him, and he was knocked out when Mr Cadder was stabbed.

He also called a fellow prison inmate, Shane Watson, of Burnham Road, Walcot, who is in the cell next to him at Bullingdon also gave evidence on his behalf.

The 34-year-old said Mr Cadder, who he described as a 'dirty snake', had told him that a number of men had attacked him and not just the one.

However he said couldn't recall when the conversation took place and he was not aware that Mr Cadder had been stabbed on more than one occasion.

The court heard the victim, who was not asked about any conversation with Mr Watson who is doing time for theft, did not know him.

David Maunder, prosecuting, told the court that the Londoner had come down as a 'cuckoo' drug dealer, a now common way for out-of-towners to sell their wares.

He said the plan would be to find a vulnerable user with accommodation and use their home as a base for selling.

Following a trial Yaba was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent. He admitted possessing crack with intent to supply before the jury could be sworn in.

The court heard the defendant, of Lewisham, had a long history of crime with a number of offences of robbery and attempted robbery.

Kevin Batch, defending, said his client had been detained in custody on immigration matters.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "I am satisfied that, as Scott Cadder said, your intention was to sell drugs.

"Your intention was to establish a foothold at first and then establish a significant distribution of heroin and crack in Swindon.

"I am also satisfied that anyone who attempted to stop you, perhaps another dealer, anyone that tried to stop you ran the risk of being met in a violent way."