A 26-year-old-man who was found with uncut heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how officers from the North Operation Raptor team were patrolling an area in Braintree town centre on Friday June 9 2017 when they became suspicious of a black Ford Fiesta.

The officers watched the vehicle, which was being driven by Amara Conteh, for some time before deciding to stop it.

As they approached the car, Conteh got out of the car and tried to reach into his shoulder bag before attempting to flee.

Officers managed to tackle Conteh before searching him where they found two mobile phones, a package in his hand containing just under three grams of heroin and nearly six grams of crack cocaine concealed in his sock.

The drugs had a street value of £850.

Conteh of Homerton Road in Hackney in East London was arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.

Conteh admitted the charges when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and was sentenced today to three-and-a-half years.

After the sentencing investigating officer PC Richard Philipsen of the North Operation Raptor team said: “We have said before, and we will continue to keep saying, that we will not tolerate those who are intent on coming to our county to commit crime.

“We know who the drug dealers are, we know where they operate, who they associate with and even the vehicles they drive.

“It is only a matter of time before you can expect to be arrested by us.

“We will not stop in our relentless pursuit of those committing drug or gang-related crime on the streets of Essex.”

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county 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.