A London drug dealer who robbed a shopkeeper has been locked up for five years.

Oakley Ellis went into a store in Church Street, Cliffe, and selected a number of food items before approaching the counter.

After speaking to a member of staff, he suddenly punched them and ran off without paying.

The incident happened on October 5, 2019 and Ellis, of Parkway, Erith, was later recognised from CCTV footage recovered at the shop.

Police also identified that the 24-year-old was involved in the supply of Class A drugs to dealers in Gillingham.

They went to Eltham in south east London on November 18, 2019 where they saw Ellis standing next to a car.

As they approached, he took items from his trouser pocket and threw them through the open car window.

When the vehicle was searched, two packages were recovered containing 20.72 grams of crack cocaine and 6.85 grams of cocaine.

His phone was seized and officers located text messages relating to the supply of Class A drugs.

Ellis was later charged with robbery, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

He pleaded guilty to these charges at Maidstone Crown Court at an earlier hearing and last Wednesday, the dealer was sentenced to two-and-a-half years.

"This criminal was very much involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine from London to the Medway Towns..."

At the same hearing he also received an additional two years and six months’ imprisonment for offences committed in Hull.

These were possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of ketamine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property (a quantity of cash).

After sentencing, Detective Constable Mark Donovan said: "This criminal was very much involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine from London to the Medway Towns.

"In spite of the profits he undoubtedly made through this illegal trade, he did not think twice about assaulting a shop worker to avoid paying a small amount of cash for a few items of food.

"He has now been brought to justice for his various crimes in Kent and the north of England after our proactive investigators tracked him down in south London. It is only right that he is now starting a lengthy prison sentence."