A SUSPECTED drug dealer has appeared in court after his room at a Basingstoke guest house was raided last week.

Kirk Matthews has been charged with possessing cannabis with the intent to supply it and having a handgun without a licence.

It comes after a drugs raid on his room at Wessex House guest house in Winchester Road last Tuesday (April 27).

He has further been charged with handling stolen property, namely cash and a watch.

The 31-year-old, whose listed address is the guest house, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (April 29), where his case was sent to Winchester Crown Court.

He will next appear on June 2, and has been remanded into custody. No pleas have been entered at this stage.

In a further hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, it was heard that Mr Matthews was allegedly in possession of £22,000 of cash and a Rolex watch valued at £11,000 at the time of his arrest.

Magistrates granted police a six-month extension to hold onto the goods, with police claiming the money was gained through “unlawful conduct”.

Police officers raided Wessex House at 10pm on April 27, and also arrested an 18-year-old woman.

Her status is currently unknown, and Hampshire Constabulary have been contacted for further information.

The owner of Wessex House expressed his shock at the incident, telling The Gazette: “I’m quite gobsmacked myself!”

He told the Gazette: “It seems like it was quite a serious incident by all accounts.

“I think it was a dodgy guest. We don’t know anything more than that.”