TWO drug dealers, who ran a tattoo parlour in Rayleigh, have been jailed after £29,000 of drugs were seized by Essex Police.  

Paul Dymock and David Verner were jailed for 45 months and 36 months respectively after an investigation carried out by our serious and organised crime unit.

Acting on intelligence, officers watched Verner enter a home in Elm Drive, Rayleigh at about 2.45pm on August 16.

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That home belonged to business partner Dymock. The pair jointly ran a tattoo parlour in Rayleigh Lanes.

Verner left the property about an hour later and was carrying a blue bag. He got into a blue Renault Megane and left the area.

He was stopped by officers very shortly after, in London Road.

During a search of the vehicle, we found 220g of cocaine and a quantity of cannabis bud. There was also a large number of empty deal bags.

Verner was then arrested.

As that vehicle stop was being carried out, officers were also executing a warrant at Dymock’s home. He was arrested after officers found cocaine, cannabis and MDMA tablets.

His phone was also seized and examined. Officers found a significant number of messages in which Dymock openly spoke about selling “white”, “tickets”, “weed” and “pills etc”.

A warrant was also executed at Verner’s home, in Thorney Bay caravan park, in Canvey. During a search there, offices found a significant quantity of ketamine, MDMA and cannabis.

A number of weapons, including knuckle dusters, were also recovered.

In total, about £29,000 worth of drugs were seized from both men’s homes and the Renault.

Verner, 48, and Dymock, 51, were subsequently charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

Dymock was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

Both men admitted the charges and were sentenced on Tuesday 20 December at Southend Crown Court.

Dymock was sentenced to a total of 45 months in prison and Verner was sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison.

A proceeds of crime hearing will take place in due course.

Leo Fordham, detective sergeant, led the investigation.

He said: “Verner and Dymock believed they could supply drugs on the streets of Essex, but they were wrong.

“They were unaware we had been building an overwhelming case against them so that when they were arrested and charged, they had very few options but to admit their guilt.

“They have now been sentenced and all the drugs recovered have been seized and destroyed.

“I have no doubt that south Essex is a safer place with both men in prison.”