Reading drug dealer jailed after officers seize heroin, crack cocaine and cash
A 24-year-old will spend more than three years behind bars after admitting supplying Class A drugs in the town
A drug dealer has been jailed after police found heroin, crack cocaine and thousands of pounds in cash across two separate arrests in Reading.
Ernest Acheampong, of Mason Street, was sentenced to three years and four months at Reading Crown Court on Friday 11th September.
The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply heroin, one count of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to supply cocaine.
He also admitted two counts of acquiring criminal property.
The case followed an investigation by Thames Valley Police.
On 14th April, officers saw Acheampong on a bike on Caroline Street.
Believing he had been involved in drug-related activity, they detained him for a search under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Officers recovered nine wraps of crack cocaine and heroin, two bags of cannabis and £200 in cash.
A Nokia mobile was also found and identified as a drugs line phone.
Acheampong was arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and an enhanced search in police custody found a concealed green plastic pot containing a further nine wraps of heroin.
On 18th June, officers saw what they believed to be drug-related activity involving Acheampong at the junction of Gower and Mason Street.
He was later seen on Stanley Street, where officers tried to stop him before he ran off and was seen to discard two phones.
He was later detained and searched under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, and officers found him with £400 in cash.
Acheampong was arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and charged the next day.
A Section 18 search was carried out on Mason Street, where officers recovered a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, digital scales, cut-down cling film rolls, 32 individual wraps of heroin and £1,669 in cash.
The Nokia phone contained messages indicative of drug supply.
The Class A drugs had a street value of around £820 for the crack cocaine and £320 for the heroin.
Investigating officer Police Constable Tom Kennedy, of the Reading Neighbourhood Disruptions team, said: "Our team will continue to target and prosecute offenders like Acheampong. Our activity is both visible and covert, and is aimed at disrupting those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and bringing them to justice.
"Information from the public about drug supply in Reading plays a vital role in helping us develop intelligence and carry out proactive investigations.
"If you have information about drug-related activity, please report it by calling 101 or via our online reporting form on the Thames Valley Police website."