A drug dealer who disguised class A drugs as chocolate has been jailed for more than four years.

Billy Johnson, 19, had aroused police suspicions when he was spotted making phone calls and wandering around Clacton train station on September 1.

He ran from officers when approached but was eventually stopped and searched when they caught up with him.

They found Johnson carrying a small amount of cannabis and a suspected burner phone.

He was then arrested after it was discovered he was wanted for questioning in relation to other offences.

Officers had also found Johnson had dropped a Kinder Egg casing during the chase, which was stashed with heroin and crack cocaine.

CCTV footage covering the car park showed the casing had fallen from Johnson when he had tried to flee.

Detectives later found messages on the burner phone which revealed large numbers of messages sent to people offering them drugs.

Johnson, of Cluny Square, Southend, was charged by police and admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of Class B drugs when appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 30.

He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison during a second hearing at the same court last week.

Det Insp Graham Moss, said: “Identifying dealers and bringing them to justice is crucial in stopping harmful drugs reaching our communities.

“A huge amount of credit must go to the fleet-footed officers who not only used their professional curiosity to engage with Johnson but stopped him before he could make off.

“We have teams working round the clock across England, Scotland and Wales dedicated to disrupting County Lines criminal activity.

"I would urge anyone on the railway who spots something that doesn’t look right to report it to us by texting 61016."