A drug dealer has been jailed for using a vulnerable man’s Dartford home to supply drugs.

Joshua Slattery went into hiding after officers in the Operation Raptor team were notified he was cuckooing the address in mid 2018 but was arrested for his role in November.

The 22-year-old, of Laburnum Avenue in Dartford, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court today and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

He had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

The court heard that Slattery, and co-offender Luftur Rahman, took over a flat belonging to a man, who they knew was vulnerable, in mid-2018.

Their offending came to light in July 2018 when a relative contacted Kent Police and an investigation by Kent Police’s Operation Raptor team followed.

Officers visited the address shortly after the initial call was made and seized numerous "burner mobile phones" together with a quantity of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.

The items were found in a safe that had been put there by the offenders and had an estimated value of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Rahman was detained in July last year, prompting Slattery to go into hiding.

A Most Wanted appeal was issued to help locate him and he was arrested at an address in Hilltop Gardens, Dartford, in November.

Detective Constable Terence Hanlon, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: "Slattery’s offending was highly calculated and deeply exploitive.

"He was well aware of the victim’s vulnerabilities and chose to exploit these for his own profit. When his offending came to light, he then went into hiding in an attempt to escape the consequences of his actions.

"I am pleased that we have now been able to bring him to justice."

Rahman, 28, and formerly of Savoy Road in Dartford, was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on August 2 2018.

He had previously admitted possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.