A COCAINE dealer who fled the country after his arrest has been convicted nearly five years after his crimes.

Jordan Phillips was part of an organised crime gang which flooded Bournemouth with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs.

But he fled to countries including France,Vietnam, the Philippines and Spain leaving his co-conspirators to face the music at a trial in 2018.

Phillips, 32, of Brassey Road, Bournemouth, denied conspiracy to supply cocaine between April and November 2016 when he finally went on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

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But he was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in jail.

He was also convicted of breaching bail conditions when he fled the country and given a further four months in custody.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Fuller QC told him: "It is clear that this was a significant operation dealing with many kilos of cocaine.

"Your involvement can be categorised as significant. You had an operational role and you were motivated by money. You were in contact with most of the people named in the conspiracy and there is evidence of packages being delivered to your address."

During previous cases, the court heard drugs with a street value of £404,000 were seized by police following a year-long investigation into the activities of several dealers who all lived in the Bournemouth and Poole areas.

Ring-leader Aaron Robinson threatened low-level dealers, threatening to cut their fingers off or that they would be killed.

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Robinson, 30, of Brazier Close, Bournemouth was jailed for 10 years in September 2018 after admitting two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to blackmail.

He was sentenced alongside five other defendants involved in the conspiracy.

James Bruce-Joy, 29, of Mossley Avenue, Poole, admitting two charges of conspiracy to supply drugs and was sent to prison for five years and nine months.

Jordan Cook, 21, of Robert Louis Stephenson Avenue, Westbourne admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply drugs and one of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence.

William Parks, 61, of Seabourne Place in Bournemouth was jailed for six years and nine months after pleading guilty to concealing criminal property and two offences of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Twenty-nine-year-old Michael Scott, of Albert Road, Poole also admitted two offences of conspiracy to supply drugs and was jailed for five years and six months.

Jonathan Mills, 31, of Ashley Road, Bournemouth admitted one charge of conspiracy to supply drugs and was jailed for four years and three months.