A nightclub promoter has been jailed for supplying cocaine to his friends.

Idon Irwin enjoyed a lavish lifestyle as a high profile member of the Brighton night scene.

Today the 48-year-old is starting a 30-month prison sentence after admitting possessing the drug with intent to supply.

He was also ordered to hand over almost £20,000.

The entrepreneur promoted theme nights at some of the city's top restaurants and nightclubs, including Planet, the Paradox and Creation.

Hove Crown Court heard yesterday 29 packets of cocaine were found after police raided a mansion flat in Adelaide Crescent, Hove.

Irwin was living there with his elderly mother Vasso Irwin and his girlfriend but immediately admitted the cocaine was his and insisted they knew nothing about it.

His late father and his mother were themselves high-profile restaurant owners, running Vasso's pub restaurant in The Lanes, Brighton, for 12 years, where customers included film legend Robert Mitchum and other stars.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said police raided the family's flat on March 11 this year.

He said: "Two amounts of cocaine were found, one in a single bag of 13 grams and the remaining 16 grams was split into 28 packets.

"Officers also discovered a large amount of cash in a drawer, which totalled £1,285.

"He accepted the drug and the money were his and said it was bought to satisfy his own personal habit.

"He said he socialised with a group of friends and had shared it with them on a social basis but was not a commercial supplier. This was not accepted and a court hearing in October decided he was a commercial supplier, albeit in a social context."

An investigation led by Detective Constable David West was launched into Irwin's financial dealings.

It showed large amounts of cash were being paid into his accounts, including sums of £50,000, £46,000 and £40,000 between 2001 and last year.

At the combined sentencing and confiscation hearing, Mr Hornsby said: "It is clear he carried out a number of business activities over the years, including promotional events, but has not paid any tax since 1996.

"He had significant outgoings and was funding the private education of his two daughters.

"He appears to have led a fairly lavish lifestyle, with significant amounts of cash being put through his account."

Mr Hornsby said it was agreed Irwin had benefited by £100,000 from supplying cocaine and he now had realisable assets of just £19,513.

Ahmed Hussain, defending, said: "Mr Irwin began using cocaine some time ago and developed an addiction which spiralled out of control.

"As far as a lavish lifestyle is concerned he has for the past six or seven years been overdrawn and has taken out a series of loans to get himself back into credit."

In addition to the prison sentence, Irwin was ordered to forfeit £19,513 or serve an extra 12 months if he fails to do so. The drugs seized were ordered to be destroyed.