Southborough heroin dealer Daniel Saunders jailed for more than three years
Published: 19:00, 08 February 2017
Updated: 19:10, 08 February 2017
A heroin dealer has been locked up after messages arranging to set up deals were discovered on his mobile phone.
Police raided Daniel Saunders's home in Southborough last year and found a package containing drugs in the living room.
Today the 30-year-old, of London Road, was sent to prison for three years after admitting the charges.
Officers carried out a search at his flat last August and along with the drugs - enough for around 13 street deals police said - found scales, customer lists and several mobile phones.
He was arrested and the package sent to experts for forensic tests.
They confirmed the package contained 1.3g of heroin.
A download of data from his mobile phone also revealed text messages which showed him arranging and offering drug deals.
Saunders told police the drugs were for his own personal use and claimed other users had accessed his phone to make the deals.
He was later charged with possessing heroin with intent to supply, offering to supply heroin and offering to supply crack cocaine.
He admitted all three charges at Maidstone Crown Court last month and returned for sentencing today.
The judge gave him a prison sentence for three years and one month.
Tunbridge Wells chief inspector Dave Pate said: "There will be no let-up in our relentless and robust enforcement against criminals who attempt to deal drugs within the Tunbridge Wells area.
"We repeat the message that anyone who persists in trying to do so will be arrested and put before the courts.
"I’m very proud of the considerable success we have had in recent years in tackling drug dealers, who are intent on bringing harm to our local communities."
He added the police rely on information from residents to help tackle drug offences and urged anyone with information about suspicious activity to contact police on 101 or on 999 in an emergency.
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Matt Leclere