A drug dealer caught with a knuckle duster and 20 bags of cocaine in Tunbridge Wells has been locked up.

The drugs and weapon were found when police stopped a Mercedes C250 travelling on London Road in Southborough.

They suspected the driver, Karl Pennington, was involved with the supply of drugs and during a search officers seized 20 bags of cocaine from one of his pockets and two mobile phones.

Pennington admitted he was taking the drugs to a party and was arrested. The officers also seized a knuckle duster from the car and £310 in cash on November 15, 2019.

A further £360 and some electronic scales were recovered when police searched an address he was linked to.

One of his mobile phones was later examined where officers found texts relating to the sale of drugs.

Pennington, 53, of no fixed address, was charged with possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was yesterday jailed for two years and four months in prison.

District Commander for Tunbridge Wells, Chief Insp Omid Changizi, said: "This dealer was actively supplying Class A drugs to the local area.

"It is apparent he was making a sizeable profit and had no regard for the impact of his actions on the drug users, their families and the wider community.

"A prison sentence is entirely justified and should send a clear message to others who seek to deal drugs, that it is only a matter of time before our proactive officers track them down and bring them to justice."

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