A drug dealer caught red-handed with wraps of heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed.

Carl Jervis was sentenced to four=and-a-half years behind bars at Chelmsford Crown Court last Wednesday for drug dealing and money laundering offences.

The 34-year-old, of St Mary’s Road, Leyton, was jailed following an incident in Braintree during December 2016.

The court heard how officers from Essex Police’s Operation Raptor drugs team were on patrol on the day in question in St James Road, Braintree, when they spotted a suspicious vehicle.

As they approached the car, Jervis clenched his fist as he attempted to hide the wraps of Class A drugs he was holding.

However he was searched by the officers, along with his car, and was found to have 16 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine.

He was also in possession of £235 in cash and a mobile phone which contained evidence linking him to drug supply.

Jervis was found guilty of the charges following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

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 straightaway 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.”