A DRUG dealer who became aggressive and struggled to escape when approached by police in Bournemouth has been jailed for more than three-and-a-half years.

Chay Maguire-Baker, aged 24 and from London, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court to 40 months in prison after admitting offences of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property.

He was also sentenced to a further three months in prison for resisting or obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty and failing to surrender to custody.

The court heard that at around 8.15pm on Wednesday May 19 last year officers on patrol noticed Maguire-Baker on the phone in Wimborne Road in Winton.

The officers recognised him as someone suspected to be involved in the supply of class A drugs and as they approached him he made off from them.

Maguire-Baker was detained by officers in nearby Latimer Road where he became aggressive and struggled to escape.

The officers searched him and found 11 wraps of suspected class A drugs in his jacket pocket and around £500 in cash in his back trouser pocket.

The wraps were tested and found to contain crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of £110.

Detective Constable Chris Waters, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Thanks to the efforts of the two officers involved in this incident a man who was proven to be involved in the supply of drugs in the Bournemouth area has been taken off the streets for a significant period.

“We recognise the impact county lines drug dealing networks and drug-related activity has on our local communities and will do all we can to disrupt the supply chain.

“This case demonstrates that dealers caught supplying drugs face significant sentences and we will continue to do all we can to ensure offenders are brought before the courts.

“We are also reliant on members of the community to supply us with information relating to drug dealing in their area to help build on our own intelligence and proactive operations."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.