A 28-year-old man has been jailed after cocaine with a street value of £600,000 was found in his car after he was stopped on the M40.

David Chapman, of Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water, was sentenced to eight years in prison (less 75 days for an early guilty plea), after admitting a charge of possession of a class-A drug with intent to supply. He was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Chapman was followed by officers in an armed response vehicle after being seen driving a silver Saab erratically and at speed along the M40 on November 19, 2010.

He was stopped at Beaconsfield Services at about 12.51pm and as officers approached his car, Chapman became agitated and was acting strangely, giving officers cause for concern.

On carrying out a search of the vehicle, officers found three large blocks of white powder, which after being submitted for testing was confirmed as three kilos of cocaine which was more than two-thirds pure.

Investigating officer Det Con Emma Pendry, of Burnham CID, said: “This was a good example of co-ordinated working between the armed response unit and CID officers, which has resulted in £600,000 worth of class-A drugs being taken off the streets.

“In addition to the prison sentence, we were successful in our bid for a Proceeds of Crime Act application which means Chapman will have to pay back the money he has generated through his criminal activities.”