Carl Jervis, 34, and from St Mary’s Road in Leyton, was caught with 16 wraps of the Class A drugs heroin and crack cocaine.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how on Wednesday December 21 2016, officers from the North Operation Raptor team were out on patrol in St James Road in Braintree when they spotted a suspicious vehicle.

When officers approached the car, Jervis clenched his fist as he tried to hide the wraps of drugs that he was holding.

He was searched by officers, along with his car, and was found to have 16 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine as well as £235 in cash and a mobile phone which contained evidence linking him to drug supply.

Jervis was arrested and charged with two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply, obstructing a police constable and money laundering.

He was found guilty of the charges at a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and jailed for four-and-a-half-years.

He was sentenced on April 18.

Following the sentencing Sgt Andy Stott of the North Operation Raptor team said: “If you are attempting to sell drugs on the streets of our county, it’s only a matter of time before you can expect to meet Operation Raptor.

“We know where our dealers operate, who they associate with and the vehicles they drive. It was clear to us straight-away that Jervis was supplying drugs from his car and he was found with a substantial amount of crack and heroin.

“Now he has four-and-a-half years behind bars to think about, not only his actions, but a new career on the right side of the law when he gets out.”

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the north,south and west of Essex to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community, contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.