Two men have been jailed after police witnessed the pair dealing in Reading.

Shahzaad Ahmed, aged 42, of Ripley Road, Reading, and Mohammed Akram, aged 31, of Winslet Place, Reading, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, December 15.

Both men pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, namely cocaine, and possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, namely heroin.

The court also made a forfeiture order of cash as well as a destruction order of drugs and phones.

It comes after Thames Valley Police officers witnessed a drug deal between the defendants and another person in Waylen Street, Reading, on the evening of August 8.

Officers stopped the vehicle that Ahmed and Akram were travelling in.

Following a search, Akram was found in possession of 14 wraps of heroin and a further wrap of crack cocaine was discovered in the vehicle.

A further search was then conducted at a property in Winslet Place, to which both defendants had keys.

Found within the property was: cash, drugs paraphernalia, and drugs with a street value of £21,420.

Ahmed and Akram were charged with the offences the following day.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Jon Nicholls, of the Stronghold team in Reading, said: “Our Stronghold team will proactively and robustly target drug dealers and bring them before the courts.

“We will use both overt and covert tactics to disrupt and pursue offenders in the supply of drugs in our town.

“The public can help us lock up drug dealers by providing information, which enables us to develop intelligence to support our investigations.

“If you have any information we would encourage you to report it to us by calling 101 or through the online reporting on our website.”

Ahmed was jailed for four years and Akram was jailed for three and a half years.