A MAN caught dealing drugs in Bournemouth town centre who had wraps of cocaine and heroin in the waistband of his trousers has been jailed for two years.

Ijaah Murray, aged 23 and of Fort Road, Rochester in Kent, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, September 11, after admitting two charges of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and an offence of possessing criminal property.

An officer from a local neighbourhood policing team was on a foot patrol in plain clothes at around 4.15pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, when he witnessed a group of known drug users walking along Commercial Road before stopping at benches by the bandstand in the Lower Gardens.

A short time later, Murray was seen to approach the group before walking off to Gervis Place with two of them, where a drug deal appeared to take place.

The officer confronted the defendant and was joined by two colleagues as Murray attempted to make off.

Murray was detained and following a search was found to be in possession of eight wraps of crack cocaine and three wraps of heroin in the waistband of his trousers.

Officers also seized £150 in cash and two mobile phones.

Police Constable Stuart Grant, of the Bournemouth Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We recognise the detrimental impact drug dealing and drug-related activity has on our communities and we continue to work proactively to ensure those such as Ijaah Murray who are involved in the supply chain are identified and brought before the court.

He added: “I would urge anyone with information about suspected drug-related activity to report it to us by contacting Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.”