POLICE say the jailing of a dealer for five years should send a clear message to others intent on selling drugs in Swindon.

Dennis Melhado, of Markham Close, Walcot, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court after a two-day trial.

The 49-year-old had pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, cocaine and amphetamines and possession of a bladed article.

The judge told him that he had been involved in an evil trade'.

After the case Sergeant Scott Hargreave, of Swindon police, said: "Hopefully this sentence will send out a message that we know who the dealers are and we will keep hammering them."

Melhado, who was known to the police, was arrested on February 15.

Sgt Hargreave spotted him riding his bike in Frobisher Drive with no lights and as officers approached him he cycled off.

"He was chased and tried to cycle to his home address," Sgt Hargreave said.

"There he crashed his bike and fell into a hedge. As we moved in he was getting up and trying to throw items away."

Melhado was searched and police found £370 in cash and a knife.

A further search of the area where he fell off his bike uncovered a plastic container with 12 individual wraps.

These included 10 wraps of crack cocaine, one of cocaine powder and another of amphetamine powder.

Officers then searched his home and found £1,000 in cash, along with electronic weighing scales, a knife and a plastic container similar to the one found outside with the drugs.

In police interviews Melhado denied having anything to do with the drugs.

He was released on bail and later charged after traces of crack cocaine were found on the scales and the knife.

In court Melhado said that he had found the items and insisted he was not a dealer.

After the case Sgt Hargreave said it was an excellent result and warned other dealers they had nowhere to hide.

"What I want to keep saying is we know who the majority of the dealers are and we are on to them," he said.

"The public don't always see what we are doing but we are actively pursuing all these people.

"This man was arrested in February and has only just been convicted so it does take time.

"We are doing our bit to identify the dealers and jump on them. We are not going to let up on it.

"It's been a good year for us so far and we are going to keep it up."

Some of the information built up on Melhado came from the public and Sgt Hargeave said: "I would urge people to keep giving us information.

"We need the help of the community as much as they need us."