A DRUG dealer who was found to be hiding 24 wraps of heroin in his trousers has been sentenced.

Rhys Parsons of Dove Lane, Chelmsford, was sentenced to two years’ detention in a young offender institution at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 6, 2016.

The 19-year-old was arrested by officers from Operation Raptor, a team set up to detect and disrupt gangs who deal drugs and cause violence, in Sunrise Avenue, Chelmsford just after 3pm on May 17, 2016.

Officers spotted him acting suspiciously in the area and attempted to stop him but he made off on a push bike and then on foot before being arrested and taken into custody to be searched.

Parsons was found to be wearing two pairs of trousers. Concealed within one of the legs, officers discovered a white plastic bag containing 24 wraps containing a total of 3.17g of heroin.

Three mobile phones and a three-figure sum of cash were also seized.

Parsons was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and later pleaded guilty to the offence.

During sentencing orders were made for the drugs and mobile phones to be destroyed. Parsons will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £140.

Operation Raptor teams have been set up in the North, South and West Local Policing Areas (LPA). Pc Lea Westby from the Operation Raptor team in the North LPA said: "I hope this result reassures residents that our team is working to take drug dealing gangs off the streets and bring them to justice.

"Much of our work is intelligence led so we would encourage anyone with information about drug dealing activity where they live to tell us about it by calling 101. Anyone who would rather not speak to the police can call independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”