A DRUG dealer who was arrested twice in the same month has been jailed for more than three years.

Two police community support officers saw a group of people gathered around a man who appeared to be dealing drugs in Old Road Clacton.

They spotted the 23-year-old man, named Shelton Alexander, at around 3.15pm on July 12, 2016.

Alexander, of Nelson Walk, Tower Hamlets, ran off after spotting the officers, but he was found a short time later in an alleyway behind a parade of shops.

He was first found with a small amount of cannabis in his pocket, but after police carried out a search of the area, they found 26 wraps has been left.

Alexander was released on bail while tests were carried out, but he was caught in the act again on July 29 at 2.20pm by Operation Raptor officers on patrol in Clacton.

Officers stopped a Ford Focus in Thoroughgood Road, Clacton, after seeing the occupants, which included Alexander, acting suspicious.

Alexander ran off, but he was caught and arrested by officers.

A search was then carried out at a nearby address and officers found £1,700 in cash and a quantity of cannabis.

Investigations were carried out and the wraps discarded during the first incident were found to contain crack cocaine and heroin.

Alexander was charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin, two counts of possession of cannabis and one count of possession of criminal property, which related to the money seized.

He admitted to all the counts at court hearings on December 5 and January 3.

Alexander was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, January 13 to three years for each of the possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin charges.

This is to run concurrently with three months for possession of criminal property to run consecutively and one month each for the possession of cannabis charges to run concurrently.

The judge also ordered for the drugs to be destroyed and the £1,700 to be seized.

District commander Chief Inspector Russ Cole said: "Alexander had travelled from Luton to ply his disgusting trade in Clacton and tried to evade arrest twice.

"However he has now started the new year behind bars, as a result of the combined efforts of officers responsible for policing Clacton.

"I hope this case serves as a warning to other dealers considering travelling to Essex that we will not tolerate their criminal activity.”