A drug dealer caught red-handed with class A drugs hidden in his clothing has been jailed.

Uttam Gurung, 26, was found to have 50 wraps of class A drugs - including ‘crack’ cocaine and heroin - on his person when he was detained by officers in New Street, Ashford on Thursday, October 26 last year.

It followed an investigation by Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team, in which Gurung’s car was identified by detectives as being linked to drug dealing.

The car was subsequently searched by local patrols, who found cannabis, a cannabis grinder, a mobile phone and a quantity of cash inside the vehicle.

A further search of Gurung’s home address uncovered a larger amount of money and a second mobile phone.

Gurung, of Adams Drive, Willesborough was charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug and two counts of supplying class A substances.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and, on Friday, January 26 at Canterbury Crown Court, was sentenced to three years in prison.

DC Andy Julier said: “The misuse of drugs causes no end of misery to people's lives.

“We are sending out a very clear message to drug dealers: their attempts to exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our communities will not be tolerated.

“Our use of both uniformed and plain clothes officers is making it very hard for criminals to sell drugs in this county and we are determined to keep these people off our streets.”