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Man jailed after police search car in High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells
13:14, 23 June 2020
updated: 13:28, 23 June 2020
A drug dealer has been jailed after officers found a cocaine stash hidden inside a sock during a car search in Tunbridge Wells.
Justin Martin, 45, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, namely a quantity of cash and received two years and eight months in prison last week.
He also admitted making off without paying for fuel at a petrol station in Hertfordshire last year.
In December, officers from the Tunbridge Wells community policing team were in High Brooms Road when they saw a VW Touran which they suspected was being used for the supply of drugs.
The vehicle was stopped and Justin Martin, the driver, admitted he had drugs in the vehicle.
On searching it, the officers found 13 wraps of cocaine on the centre console and a further 41 cocaine deals inside a sock in the car's boot. They also seized £570 in cash.
Martin of Edgwarebury Lane, Edgware, Greater London was arrested and later charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property, namely a quantity of cash.
'It only a matter of time before he came to the attention of my patrols...'
Martin admitted all the offences at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on June 18.
The court also ordered forfeiture of the seized cash and the VW Touran.
Kent Police’s District Commander for Tunbridge Wells, Chief Insp Rachael Cumberland said: "My officers patrol the town centre and other areas in marked and unmarked police vehicles and they will not hesitate to stop and search anyone they suspect to be a drug dealer.
"In this case, a cocaine supplier from London came to the town with a significant number of deals and it was only a matter of time before he came to the attention of my patrols.
"He was swiftly brought to justice as will anybody else intent on supplying drugs in Tunbridge Wells."
