A drug dealer originally from Zimbabwe has been jailed for three years after officers tried to search him in the street because he was acting suspiciously.
Rangarirai Gwatidzo, 24, of Ravensfield, Basildon, was convicted of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply and possession of heroin with intent to supply. He was also convicted of being in possession of cannabis.
He was sentenced to three years in prison following a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday.
Gwatidzo, who is unemployed, was seen acting suspiciously by Pc Dan Onley in Rippleside in Basildon at around 4.30pm on Wednesday, January 7.
Pc Onley stopped him for a search but Gwatidzo scuffled with him and CS gas was deployed. Gwatidzo ran away, throwing a bag that contained one gram of cannabis into an alleyway.
Officers made enquiries and found where Gwatidzo was living at an address in Ravensfield, Basildon. They went to his home the next day and found 3.58 grams of heroin and 2.592 grams of crack cocaine hidden inside a hooded jumper.
He was arrested and taken into custody.
Sgt Ben Woollard of the Basildon Proactive Team said: “This is a good example of how a basic stop and search can result in a Class A drug dealer being taken off the streets. The Courts imposing a custodial sentence shows that Class A supply will not be tolerated.”
