A DRUG DEALER who tried to supply heroin and crack cocaine has been hailed to more than three years in prison.

Ryan Baptiste, 28, of no fixed abode, was jailed yesterday following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

He was sentenced to three years and four months after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply heroin and one count of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine at a previous hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 23 January.

At about 4.30pm on Monday, January 20, officers stopped and searched a suspicious car in Home Farm Close, Reading.

Police discovered a large quantity of class A drugs and cash in the car which was seized.

Baptiste was consequently arrested.

PC Scott Whiteside from the Reading neighbourhood policing team, said: “I am pleased that we have brought Ryan Baptiste to justice and he will now have to serve a prison sentence as a result of his criminal activity.

“Through Stronghold, Thames Valley Police is committed to working in partnership to tackle serious organised crime and exploitation such as county lines drug dealing.

“We continue to need the support of the public in this and we would ask them to please report any information they have about drug dealing so we can build intelligence about the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“Our new True Costs campaign aims to highlight the real impact of drug offences on the most vulnerable in our communities.

“Children as young as seven in the UK have been groomed in to the world of drugs and we are exploring what the real harm is in taking a little cocaine. You can find out more on our website (https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/c/true-costs/) and get involved in the conversation using #TrueCosts.

“If you are concerned about drug-related crime in your area or think someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report online or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”