A MAN whose flat was a base for an “evil” drugs operation has been jailed for five years.

Up to £150,000 worth of drugs were discovered in the home of James Sinnott, 44, of Plas Dinas, Blacon.

Sinnott’s ninth floor flat had been transformed into a drugs haven where dealers stored massive amounts of illicit substances.

He was arrested by chance and his address searched on December 11 last year because he matched the description given to police of a man suspected of breaking into a car.

Prosecutor Peter Hussey told Chester Crown Court last week: “Police found rather more than they expected – they found a huge amount and variety of drugs.

Police discovered 11 kilos of amphetamines, worth between £35,000 and £110,000 stuffed in his fridge.

They also found 175 amphetamine tablets and powder with a street value of £890-£1,500, a kilo of skunk cannabis, worth around £5,800, and 30 grams of cocaine, valued at £540-£900.

Bags containing 8000 tablets, which police and Sinnott himself had thought were ecstasy, were revealed by tests to be the uncontrolled drug Benzylpiperazine. If they had been ecstasy, they would have sold for up to £40,000

Sinnott had six LSD tablets and a few miligrams of cannabis resin for personal use and a CS gas spray cannister.

He had been approached by dealers and paid in drugs for the use of his flat for six months.

Simon Parry, defending, said: “He is a custodian as opposed to a retailer.

“When one spends any time with Mr Sinnott it is easy to see why he was in the position he was. He can’t read or write.

Sinnott pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis with intent to supply. He admitted possessing MDMA, LSD and cannabis resin and attempting to have MDMA in his possession with an intent to supply.

Judge the Recorder of Chester, Elgan Edwards, said: “To some degree you were used by others but you knew the kind of people they were and you must have known the scale of this operation.

“You provided them with a base to launch their evil operation onto the streets of this city.”

He sentenced Sinnott to five years in prison and ordered the confiscation of £639, found in cash and a bank account, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and the destruction of the drugs, a cannabis grinder, scales and bags for the preparation of the drugs.