Police said that Petrit Kolendreu, 27, was in the property in Whitsed Street, Eastfield, on 29 September last year when officers from the Neighbourhood Support Team conducted a warrant.

He climbed out of a ground floor window and ran away but was pursued and arrested nearby.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said he dropped a package of cocaine worth up to £1,280 and believed to be intended for sale as crack cocaine.

Officers also found a small package of crack cocaine on a nearby roof that Kolendreu, of Cromwell Road, Peterborough, had discarded.

A search of the property revealed a mobile phone that was being used by Kolendreu and associate Xhovani Gjonaj, 29, to sell class A drugs, along with several wraps of crack cocaine.

Gjonaj, of Whitsed Street, was located during a simultaneous warrant at the same block of flats.

In that property officers found another mobile phone linked to a drug line and a knife in a pair of trousers.

The mobile phone contained many drug dealing messages, as well as information sent to Klondreu's personal number.

It was also established that Kolendreu and Gjonaj used the names Micky and Jerry respectively for their drug dealing activities.

The warrant was organised following information collated by detectives in CID that implicated both men in supplying class A drugs.

Both men admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

On Thursday (September 17) at Cambridge Crown Court, Gjonaj was jailed for 52 months and Kolendreu for 47 months.

DC Melero said: “This was a clear case of ‘cuckooing’, where dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person to sell drugs.

“Kolendreu and Gjonaj used this flat as a base for their operation selling crack cocaine in Peterborough.

“Crack cocaine traps people in addiction, ruins lives and can be associated with other crimes including violence, anti-social behaviour and theft.

“We’re working hard to identify those involved in drug supply and bring them to justice.”