A drug dealer has been jailed for hiding drugs in a sock in the car that he was driving in  Westcliff.

Following information they received, specialist police officers stopped a car in Kings Road on December 14 last year.

Officers searched the car and the driver and found 13 wraps of white powder, later identified as cocaine, hidden in a sock in the car, almost £750 cash and two mobile phones.

Gentian Gjulja, of no fixed abode, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

He was charged and remanded to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court the following day.

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply and acquire / use / possess criminal property and on February 16, Gentian Gjulja was jailed for a total of two years and four months.

He also pleaded guilty to no insurance and was banned from driving for two years and two months.

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Detective Sergeant Matt Harriss said: “We are here to work with communities to tackle drugs and drug dealing .

“We will always act on information received, it’s our job to take drugs and drug dealers off our streets, to keep our communities safe.

“The cocaine had an estimated value of £650 and would have caused harm in the community wherever it was destined for.”