An Eltham man has been jailed after police found a large amount of cocaine hidden under his stairs.

James Riches, 46, from Eltham appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday (October 2) and pleaded guilty to possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

He also admitted possession of a stun gun.

Mr Riches was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for drugs possession and one month for possession of a stun gun, to be served concurrently.

On June 17, a drugs warrant was executed at Riches’ house.

A spokesperson for the Met described what happened during a search of the home.

"On searching the property, officers noticed that floorboards in the stairway cupboard appeared loose.

"When they were pulled up, a void was located in which 3.5kg of high purity cocaine was found in four black plastic bags hanging from a hook."

Detective Superintendent Neil Ballard, from Specialist Crime, said that the cocaine and stun gun found in the same place pointed to the link between underground illicit drugs and violence.

"The Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command will continue to target those who supply large quantities of class A drugs, and bring them to justice.

"The linking of a stun gun to the possession of these drugs shows the close link between dealing drugs and violence in our communities, which we are determined to reduce."