A drug dealer who had a pistol as a 'tool of the trade' has been jailed for almost six-and-a-half years.

Rashaun Wright was caught with thousands of pounds worth of heroin and cocaine when police raided a shared home in Rodbourne in May 2016.

In the following months the west Londoner was caught up in two more drugs busts across Swindon with cash made from his illicit trade.

And soon after a bag containing a shotgun and a pistol, which had his DNA on the trigger, was found outside his home in Hayes.

Sue Cavender, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the 20-year-old was first arrested when police raided a shared home in Ford Street.

As the officers stormed up the stairs Wright, who had been staying a friend's bedsit, went into another room and hid in the wardrobe with the scared occupant.

When officers found them the other man said he had never seen the defendant before, adding he saw him put something under his bed in the seconds before they were found.

Miss Cavender said the bag contained 10.4g of heroin and in the other room cops found 23.4g of cocaine along with scales, foil and cut up cling film

As well as the drugs, worth up to £3,380, he also had £190 in cash and a mobile phone littered with messages relating to the trade in drugs.

He was on bail on November 18, 2016, when police carried out a drug search at a house on Whitney Street and he was found with cannabis, a phone and £540 in cash.

Then four days later he was in a shared house on Cricklade Road when police raided it and found to have two more phones as well as £210 in cash.

Miss Cavender said the following month one of Wright's west London neighbours was clearing rubbish near his home when found a bag containing a shotgun and pistol.

When the handgun, which had a blocked off barrel but could fire blanks, flares, and gas, was found to have the defendant's DNA on the trigger and trigger guard.

Wright, of Hayes, pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply but was convicted following a trial last summer.

He admitted having a prohibited weapon, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and three counts of possessing criminal property.

At the time he was on a suspended sentence imposed by magistrates for possessing cannabis and a knife.

Will Rose, defending, said his client had a good upbringing but following the death of his uncle he went off the rails using cannabis and alcohol.

He fell in with a bad crowd and was pushed into selling cannabis, but when he was arrested with some and had it taken away he was sent to Swindon to sell hard drugs.

While he is in custody he said that he will do educational course to improve himself for his release, he said.

Jailing him for six years and three months plus six weeks Judge Jason Taylor QC said "This was a set of very serious and persistent offending while in breach of a suspended sentence."

Referring to the gun he said "This was a tool of the trade to reinforce your status as a dealer. Your intention would have been to frighten and intimidate people with it."