A man involved in laundering about £300,000 in drugs money was yesterday jailed for five years.When police raided Larry Mayes's home they found him trying to flush drugs down the bathroom plug hole.

A man involved in laundering about £300,000 in drugs money was yesterday jailed for five years.

When police raided Larry Mayes's home they found him trying to flush drugs down the bathroom plug hole. A further search revealed £90,000 in cash hidden behind a wardrobe and more cash was found in a safe along with a large quantity of jewellery.

Christopher Morgan, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court, said that in total £186,791 was recovered and there were further amounts of cash found in building society accounts held by Mayes.

Mr Morgan said: “The Crown's case is this man has accumulated £300,000 as a result of his wholesale drug dealing.”

Mayes, of Mariners Way, King's Lynn, admitted possessing heroin in February this year and five offences of concealing criminal property through money laundering.

The court heard Mayes, 47, had previous convictions for dishonesty and two for possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Judge Paul Downes told him: “There must be a connection between the large amount of money you were keeping and the drugs trade. It is not possible to say precisely how much of the large amounts of cash were due to dishonest or drug dealing conduct. The connection with drug dealing must be the principal connection.”

He postponed a confiscation hearing to a later date when some of Mayes' assets will be seized as part of the inquiry.

William Carter, in mitigation said: “It is not clear where the money comes from. He is a launderer and has pleaded to these laundering counts.”

Mr Carter said Mayes had taken the opportunity offered to him in prison to learn, as he had very limited educational skills. He added: “He has now got himself off drugs. He was a long term heroin user. He wants qualifications so that he can make a clean start when he is released.”