Two men caught dealing Class A drugs in Tunbridge Wells experienced different fates when they appeared for sentence.

Christopher Gibson, 46, was jailed for four years, while Trevor Cope, 53, walked free with an 18-month suspended sentence.

Cope, of Simmonds Court, Gladstone Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted two offences of possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

Grant, of south west London, denied the charges but was convicted by a jury.

Cope will be subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement and supervision and have to complete 100 hours unpaid work.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Gibson and Cope were in a Ford Fiesta car in October last year when they were dealing in a park.

“Police officers swooped from various directions on the car,” said prosecutor Christopher Johnston.

Officers seized wraps of cocaine and heroin despite Gibson trying to eat the contents of a pot. Cope’s one-bedroom flat was searched and a quantity of “loose cocaine” was found.

Mr Johnston said although Cope was the driver, it was submitted he played the same role as Jamaica-born Gibson.

Gibson had in 1998 been jailed for two years for supplying a Class A drug.

London-born Cope had previous convictions for smuggling drugs, assault, having offensive weapons and burglary. He was jailed for four years in 2000 for burglary.

Richard Mohabir, for Gibson, said his client’s arrest was “a kick start for him to get on the straight and narrow”.

“He made a suicide attempt a week after his arrest,” he said. “He had a hard look at himself and started going to church. He was baptised a month ago.

“He has been speaking to teenagers about gangs and drugs, telling them what will happen if they go down that route.”

Cope had been in custody since November 11 last year.

Recorder Simon Taylor QC said Gibson had tried to blame Cope, claiming he was high at the time and didn’t know what was going on.

“However, it is clear that at your trial you lied,” he said. “You are now genuinely remorseful. It is good you have been baptised and good you have helped others.”

The judge said he was taking an exceptional course in Cope’s case.