Leighton Levy, Star Writer

A Jamaican drug dealer caught with cocaine hidden in a baby's nappy last July has been jailed in England for four years.

According to reports in the British media, 38-year-old Everton Clarke from Gloucester had been selling cocaine from his home while claiming housing benefits on the grounds that he was unemployed, the Gloucester Crown Court was told. Money he made from the drug sales were sent back to Jamaica.

Police calculated that he sent £18,500 or approximately J$3.2 million back home.

Rushed out

Prosecutor James Haskell said Clarke was arrested when police spotted him opening up a dust bin and taking out a baby's nappy. Officers went to the bin outside a house in Dean's Walk in Gloucester, and opened it to take a look at the nappy. Just as they were doing so, Clarke rushed out of the house, grabbed the nappy and fled.

According to the Gloucester Citizen, the newspaper covering the trial, "Haskell said Clarke vaulted over an iron railing fence in his bid to get away, but was seen throwing the nappy away. He escaped but left behind a vital clue to his identity, his baseball cap, which fell off during the chase. When the nappy was retrieved it was found to contain 45g of cocaine worth £2,270 (J$396,005.30) and 34g of heroin valued at £1,800 (J$319,000)."

Investigations revealed

Police investigations revealed that Clarke had transferred money to Jamaica.

The investigations also revealed that his girlfriend 28-year-old Shanalee Dalling sent to Jamaica £16,238 or J$2.8 million.

Clarke pleaded guilty to removing criminal property, £18,564.50 (J$3.2million) from England and Wales by transferring money to Jamaica between August 2005 and June 2013. He also admitted to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on July 28 last year.

Dalling denied removing criminal property from England and Wales by transferring money to Jamaica between July 2005 and March 2013. She was freed after Haskell said the Crown would not proceed against her.