A DRUG dealer who operated in Maldon has been sentenced to more than five years in jail after a proactive investigation by Essex Police's serious and organised crime unit.

Kurt Ishkurt had been identified as holding a drugs line which sold cocaine into Maldon and Chelmsford when he was stopped by officers on the A414 on 25 October this year.

Detectives had been able to prove he was closely associated with the drug line for a number of months.

He was arrested and searched, with the drug line phone found on him.

The 31-year-old was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, driving without insurance and having no valid UK driving licence.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 17 November and admitted all charges against him and was sentenced at the same court today, Monday 24 November.

In total he was sentenced to five years and three months in jail, which includes a separate punishment for previous drug supply offences for which he had failed to attend court to be sentenced.

The Albanian national, of no fixed address, will serve half of his sentence in the UK and will then be deported.

Jailed - Kurt Ishkurt

Detective Inspector Frazer Low, of the serious and organised crime unit, said: "The strength of the case against Ishkurt ultimately meant that, within a month of being arrested, he's admitted all of the charges against him and been sentenced by the courts.

"We don't tolerate the supply of illicit drugs in Essex and anyone who thinks they can do that is sorely mistaken."