A DRUG dealer who managed to evade police after being arrested twice on suspicion of drugs offences has been jailed for more than five years.

Abdul-Azhiz Kamara, of Camberwell New Road, London, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting two offences of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and six counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

Kamara, who had been stopped by police on a number of occasions over a four month period, was also sentenced for breaching a suspended sentence order.

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old was handed down a prison term of five years and two months.

Detective Constable Declan Cummings, of Dorset Police, said: "It is clear Abdul-Azhiz Kamara was involved in a significant ‘county line’ operation where he handled dedicated mobile phone lines to facilitate the supply of class A drugs.

"Despite being arrested on a number of occasions he continued to conduct his operations and I am glad that through our proactive patrols we were able to catch Kamara in the act on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, and bring him to justice for his offending.

"We recognise the damaging impact the supply of class A drugs and related activity has on society and we are determined to ensure those who are involved in the supply chain are identified and dealt with."

The court heard that around 1.20am on Friday, March 8, 2019, an officer stopped a Ford Focus in the area of Radipole Park Drive in Weymouth. Kamara was in the passenger seat and following a search was found to have a wrap of crack cocaine on him, two tablets marked ‘Xanax’, more than £1,100 in cash and a phone with messages appearing to relate to the sale of drugs.

Just five days later Kamara was a passenger in a Volkswagen Golf pulled over by officers in Ringwood Road, Poole.

Kamara was again found to be in possession of a large quantity of cash and a number of wraps containing heroin and crack cocaine were found in the vehicle. Another phone was also seized from Kamara.

He was arrested on both occasions and released under investigation pending further enquiries.

However, on Saturday, May 4, 2019, officers patrolling in Dorchester spotted Kamara with a known local drug user.

Kamara was seen discarding items from his pocket before running away.

Officers gave chase but lost sight of the defendant before returning to the scene, where around 50 wraps of heroin were discovered.

The defendant's luck finally ran out around around 6pm on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, when officers were patrolling on the Rodwell Trail in Weymouth, a well-known drug-dealing hotspot.

They spotted Kamara sitting on a bicycle with a number of suspected drug users around him. He tried to escape on the bike, before falling off and continuing on foot.

With the assistance of members of the public, who saw the defendant and told officers, Kamara was detained.

He was found in possession of five wraps of heroin and cocaine, three mobile phones and two SIM cards. A further 60 wraps were found in a nearby garden with the total street value of the drugs recovered estimated at more than £1,400.

Examination of the phones revealed ‘broadcast’ messages sent to more than 70 mobile phone numbers apparently advertising drugs for sale.

He was charged with those offences and remanded in custody until sentence.