A Pembrokeshire man caught red-handed as he threw cocaine out of his house during a police raid has been told by top judges he deserves every day of his jail term.

Gareth James Mann then tried to pay someone to take the rap for him after being arrested.

The 39-year-old, of Charles Street, Milford Haven, was caged for six years at Swansea Crown Court on November 28 last year.

He admitted possession of cocaine and supplying the drug to his co-defendant David John Phillips, as well as cannabis possession and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Officers were preparing to search Mann's property on April 4 last year, when they noticed Phillips arrive and then leave again soon after.

They searched Phillips and found nine grams of cocaine, Mr Justice Sweeney told London's Appeal Court.

Mann then threw a bag containing 13 grams of the class A drug into the street.

When they searched his house, police found 10 grams of cannabis, as well as scales and plastic bags used for preparing drug deals.

While in custody on remand, Mann wrote to a friend and offered money to anyone who would be prepared to take responsibility for the cocaine found in the street.

The letter was discovered by officers during a search of the friend's house, but the friend had taken no action after receiving it.

Phillips, of Trafalgar Road, Milford Haven, admitted having the small amount of cocaine found on him and was given a community order.

Mann had 'numerous' previous convictions and was jailed for four years in 2011 for possessing a 'substantial quantity' of cocaine with intent to supply.

His barrister, Tom Scapens, said the crown court judge didn't take enough account of his admissions of guilt or his 'lesser role' in the wider drugs operation.

But, dismissing his appeal, Mr Justice Sweeney said there was 'no merit' in the arguments.

Sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Picken, he added: "It seems to us that with all the knowledge before him the judge was clearly entitled to reach the conclusion he did as to the gravity of Mann's drug offending."

"Given Mann's record, the amount of drugs involved and the gravity of the perverting offence it seems to us that the overall sentence was wholly within the appropriate range."