A DRUG dealer caught after he asked a woman friend to remove a fake gun and some cocaine from his home has been jailed for five years.

Former soldier Max Fitter sent Emily Cooper a text message asking her to move the items from the kitchen at his home in Ploughman's Way, Droitwich.

But the police were already there waiting for colleagues to arrive with a search warrant, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Cooper, 24, was spotted putting the door keys back through the letterbox and her car was searched, Gerald Bermingham, prosecuting, told the court. Police found a blanks firing replica weapon wrapped in a pink women's dressing gown and a small amount of cocaine stuffed inside a shoe which she had just taken from the house on the afternoon on April 26 last year.

Fitter, aged 25, and Cooper both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to have an imitation firearm in a public place and drugs offences.

Cooper, of Spreadbury Close, Birmingham, also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.

Fitter was arrested shortly afterwards at his work in a distribution warehouse in Wainwright Road, Worcester.

Police found text messages on his phone indicating he had been involved in a substantial commercial drug dealing operation for around 18 months.

On the day Cooper called at his home, he had sent her a text message asking her to move the "thing" – meaning the fake gun – and the "stuff" – meaning the cocaine – from his kitchen, Mr Bermingham said.

There was no evidence that she had taken part in any of the earlier dealing and her involvement was limited to that one episode, the court heard.

Gareth James, defending both, said Cooper had driven her mother's car after receiving the text message from her friend even though she was banned.

There was no evidence she was involved in any previous drug dealing. He said she training to be a hairdresser and had an offer of employment.

Mr James said Fitter had left the military after serving overseas and appeared to be developing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

He had got into a "downward spiral" and had become involved with drug dealing though he still worked full time.

Judge Nicholas Cole said Fitter had run a medium to large scale commercial operation for profit over a period of 18 months involving substantial amounts of cannabis.

Cooper, he said, had played a limited role under his direction and she was given a total of 16 months in jail suspended for 18 months with a 40 day rehabilitation order and a four month curfew from 9pm to 6am.

Fitter was given a total of five years in jail.