Two men have pleaded guilty to dealing drugs in Reading after their car was stopped by officers.

Stephane Akmel, aged 27, of Branagh Court, Reading, and Kyle Mihikal, aged 27, of Drewett Close, Reading, both pleaded guilty to two counts each of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply heroin, in a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Thursday, March 21.

On January 15, 2024, officers stopped a grey Mercedes on Wantage Road in Reading.

The driver, Akmel, attempted to run away from the vehicle, but was detained by officers a few metres away.

Mihikal was detained in the front passenger seat.

Akmel was found in possession of 44 wraps of crack cocaine and 16 wraps of heroin and two mobile phones.

The drugs had an estimated street value of around £1,200.

A mobile phone was also recovered from the centre console of the car, attributed to Mihikal through voice notes on the phone.

A further search of Akmel’s address located digital scales and traces of cocaine.

The pair were charged on January 16 and have since been sentenced.

Akmel was sentenced to a total of three years and nine months’ imprisonment and Mihikal was jailed for two years and four months.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Jon Nicholls, based at Reading police station, said: “Thames Valley Police remain committed to removing drugs from our communities and we will proactively target and prosecute offenders.

“Our activity will be both visible and covert, aimed at disrupting and pursuing offenders involved in the supply of drugs.

“The information we receive from the public around drug supply offences in Reading plays an important role in developing intelligence into a proactive investigation.

“If you have any information, we would encourage you to report this to us, either via our website or by calling 101.”