A 33 year old man has been jailed for a total of eight years by Deemster Doyle for drugs offences.

Paul David Hewitt of Christian Road in Douglas, admitted importing cannabis resin, supplying cannabis resin, and being concerned in the importation of cannabis resin between January 1997 and January 1998.

He also admitted being concerned in the importation of drugs and supplying drugs between September 2007 and November the same year.

Police searched the defendant's home in Onchan where several nine ounce bars of cannabis resin were found along with 2,500 Ecstasy tablets concealed in tyres.

His advocate said the first set of offences only came to light as a result of Hewitt himself giving police details of them following his arrest.

He said Hewitt only got involved in drugs because of financial difficulties. He knew dealers in Liverpool and the Isle of Man and given his debt, acted as a mule.

Deemster Doyle said the aggravating facts were the quantity of drugs and the method of concealment.