A MAN has been found guilty of having more than £1,000 worth of cocaine with intent to supply it.

After almost six hours of deliberation, a jury found Graham Harris, 55, of Severn Road, Cam, guilty of possessing 25.3g of cocaine with intent to supply it.

He had previously admitted possession of cannabis. The jury at Gloucester Crown Court acquitted him of possessing criminal property (£5,000 in cash).

Prosecutor Giles Nelson told the court that police had raided Harris's home on July 13 last year where they found cannabis, cocaine and the cash.

"This was a significant find of drugs," Mr Nelson said, adding the street value of the cocaine at the time was up to £1,265.

Giving evidence, Harris told the jury he had started using cocaine after going through a "serious bad patch" in 2002. Since then he had used the drug to battle his depression, he said.

"I tried to commit suicide by cutting my wrists," he said. "I lost seven pints of blood and I'm lucky to be alive today."

Under questioning from his legal representative Jason Coulter, Harris said he had spent nine months in a psychiatric institution around that time.

In 2006, however, a friend had suggested he try cocaine to "bring (himself) through it".

"I tried it and it just lifted me," he told the jury.

When asked by Mr Coulter why he might have had such a large amount of the drug if it was not for supply, he replied: "It is so I don't have to worry about going into that fraternity of people for quite a while."

He also told the jury that, because the muscles in his hands were badly affected by his attempt to slash his wrists, he was unable to roll a joint so had resorted to eating his cannabis - a drug he said he had used since the age of 15.

The cash was mostly in a safe inside the house but about £660 was found inside a wallet hidden under a mattress in the master bedroom, Mr Nelson alleged.

Police also found two replica handguns, a machete and a baseball bat with the cocaine.

Harris said one of the handguns belonged to his son, the machete was used to cut the willow and the baseball bat was for a game.

Judge William Hart told Harris he could expect a jail sentence but bailed him to await sentence on September 18. A confiscation hearing will be held on December 16.