DORCHESTER is a safer place now two drug dealers found with tens of thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs are behind bars, police say.

Benjamin Kilburn, aged 40, and Vaidas Vaiciulis, 24, were jailed for a total of six years after admitting conspiracy to supply amphetamine and mephedrone.

Vaiciulis, a Lithuanian national, also admitted a charge of possession with intent to supply a further quantity of mephedrone.

The pair were arrested when officers observing Dorchester train station saw Vaiciulis arrive and meet Kilburn in a car on Cromwell Road.

Dorchester Crown Court was told an exchange took place, with Vaiciulis handing over a holdall and receiving cash from Kilburn.

Vaiciulis was stopped by police following the deal and mephedrone with a street value of £13,800 and £150 in cash was found.

The car being driven by Kilburn was later stopped and officers recovered a number of packages, containing amphetamines in the holdall, with a street value of £69,250.

Mephedrone worth £5,760 was also found, prosecutor Rob Welling said.

Judge Douglas Field said the scale of the drug dealing operation was ‘quite substantial’ and sentenced Kilburn, of The Pottery, Winter-bourne Abbas, to 40 months’ imprisonment and Vaiciulis, of New Malden, Kingston upon Thames, to 32 months.

Dorchester Insp Steve Marsh has said Dorchester will be a ‘safer place for all’ now the pair are imprisoned.

“It is always good to know that drug dealers have been taken off the streets and convicted as a result of some excellent police activity,” he said.

“Drug dealing and distribution of this nature is uncommon in Dorchester although it is naive to think that illegal drugs are not found within the local community.

“The fact that these drugs will not be circulated within our local area is good news. It means that we are all safer and also reinforces the message that Dorchester is not the place to try and set up and sell drugs.

“The local police team continue to identify dealers and their premises and will take positive action to ensure they do not settle in the town or surrounding area.”

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant or to contact police if they have information regarding drug dealing.

Insp Marsh added: “Much of our intelligence comes from local residents and businesses and I ask that this continues, either by direct contact or through Crime Stoppers.

“Whilst we work hard to identify and arrest dealers we continue to work hard in partnership with our local schools to educate youngsters about the danger of drugs of any kind including so called ‘legal highs’.

“We do not want to criminalise young people but steer them away from risk and harm whilst targeting those intent of causing misery through dealing drugs.”

Amphetamine is known as ‘speed’ and can lead to agitation, panics, psychotic episodes and heart problems.

Mephedrone, or Meow Meow or M-Cat, can cause sickness, paranoia, anxiousness, vomiting and headaches. It can also over-stimulate and damage the heart and circulatory and nervous systems.

Margaret Morrissey, founder of the Parents OutLoud welcomed the sentences but said more needs to be done to tackle drug dealers.

She said the amount of drugs found on the pair was ‘terrifying’ and added: “It’s incredibly good news that these drugs and people have been taken off the streets and I hope Dorset Police are really serious about this issue and continue to target drug dealers.”