APort Erin man who had cocaine sent to his home through the post twice in eight days has been jailed for four years and one month.

James Forster was jailed for four years and one month
James Forster was jailed for four years and one month© BBC

James Forster, 27, had £2,600 of the drug sent to his home hidden in a box with a pack of playing cards and a further £140 worth in a greetings card.

Douglas Courthouse heard he agreed to have the first package sent to him in exchange for £300 in September 2020.

His partner, Elizabeth Forster, was spared jail over cannabis importation.

The court heard a package sent from the Rochdale area addressed to Christopher Walsh at the couple's home in Cronk View Crescent, Ballakilley, was identified as suspicious at the postal sorting office on 9 September 2020.

When opened it was found to contain a ball of cocaine alongside the playing cards wrapped in bubble wrap within a white jiffy bag.

On 16 September, an orange envelope containing a greetings card addressed to James Forster was also intercepted and found to contain crack cocaine.

A third suspicious package addressed to the Forsters' home, which contained £20,092 of cannabis hidden in a stereo speaker, was identified on 5 October.

The pair were later arrested and evidence from 47-year-old Elizabeth Forster's mobile phone found still images of drugs and a tick list.

The phone also contained photographs of a postal van, which included the comment "fingers crossed our graft is in it".