A GREEK national who ran out of money while on holiday in the UK turned to supplying Class A drugs to pay for a ticket home, a court heard.

Konstantinos Kalpaxis was jailed at Preston Crown Court after admitting charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of cocaine.

Prosecutor David Clarke said the 28-year-old was stopped by officers at the Shell petrol station in Ulverston while driving an Audi A4 on August 22 at around 11:15 am this year.

Mr Clarke said police asked the defendant to step out of the vehicle where a snap bag containing white powder was found on the driver’s seat.

A further search of the vehicle offsite revealed another snap bag down the side of the driver’s seat, the court heard.

A small black plastic box with a magnet was also found underneath the boot where more snap lock bags containing Class A drugs were located. However, Kalpaxis was sentenced on the basis that he had no knowledge of these additional drugs.

The court heard the defendant had collected the vehicle from London ‘to earn some money’. He was then told to drive to Barrow to sell Class A drugs.

Mobile phone analysis revealed the defendant had sent messages consistent with drug supply to an unknown person.

The messages read: ‘tell me what you need’, ‘send me your location, the price for 1 gram is £130’.

In mitigation, defence barrister John Woodward said: “He was on holiday in the UK on a tourist visa. He needed to find a way to get some money so he could buy a ticket to get home.

“He is well aware that was not the right way to go about things. He wants to return to his home in Greece so he can help his father cultivate olives on his farm.  

“He has been remanded in custody since August 24 and has been trying his best to learn English.”

Recorder Charlotte Deane jailed Kalpaxis for 25 months for playing a ‘lesser role’ in the operation.

She added the defendant had ‘little awareness of the scale of the operation’.  

The court heard the defendant’s six month visa had now expired.

Kalpaxis is liable to automatic deportation upon the completion of his sentence.

Detective Constable Laurin McKie said: “We proactively work to identify and challenge anyone we suspect to be supplying drugs in our communities and Kalpaxis is exactly the type of offender that the ‘Clear Hold Build’ initiative aims to target.

“Cumbria Police will continue to do everything in our power to tackle harmful activity such as this and to take harmful drugs off our streets.

“I hope this conviction sends a clear message to those involved in drug dealing in our area – we will pursue you and bring you to justice.

“If you have any information about drug related activity in your area, please report this to police."