A drug dealer who was arrested after officers tracked him down in Greenhithe has been jailed for more than five years.

James Parrish-Taylor attempted to run to his car and escape when police confronted him in Ocotber last year, but officers were able to smash one of his windows and arrest him.

The previous month investigators from the Maidstone Operation Raptor team identified that a specific phone number was regularly used to advertise heroin and cocaine for sale in west Kent.

Extensive enquiries showed the phone was being used by the driver of a silver Mercedes, and while the vehicle was registered to an address in Norfolk, officers found that it was often parked overnight near a block of flats in Greenhithe.

On October 9, officers in plain clothes went to the area and saw James Parrish-Taylor walking towards the parked Mercedes, and the suspect started running to his car when he saw the police team.

After preventing his escape officers searched Parrish-Taylor and seized 8.2 grams of heroin and cocaine with an estimated street value of £820, together with the mobile phone he had been using to sell the drugs.

Parrish-Taylor of Fieldfare Lane, Greenhithe, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to two counts of possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply; and on Friday February 21 at the same court, the 31-year-old was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison.

Detective Inspector Jon Faulkner of Maidstone C.I.D said: "This man was a prolific dealer who started the day by sending bulk texts advertising Class A drugs for sale. He then travelled to his customers from his base in Greenhithe.

"The investigators in this case have tenaciously tracked him down over many hours and were quick to detain him when the opportunity presented itself.

"His prison sentence should leave other drug dealers in no doubt that at some time soon, my officers will be coming for them as well."

Operation Raptor is part of a joint strategy between Kent Police and Essex Police designed to tackle emerging criminal gangs and disrupt and prevent violent crime, the possession of offensive weapons and the supply of Class A drugs.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend