A dealer found in possession of thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs has been jailed for seven years and three months.

Andre Harold Willis, aged 25 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday, Wednesday, December 6 2017, after admitting four charges of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply as well as converting criminal property, failing to surrender to bail and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty.

At 2.15pm on Thursday, August 11 2016 officers on foot patrol in Dorchester involved in the targeting of drugs networks in the town stopped Willis in Poets Way.

He was searched at Dorchester police station and found to be in possession of a wrap of cocaine, a cannabis joint, two mobile phones, a roll of clingfilm and £415 in cash.

A search of a property Willis was renting in Poole was then carried out and officers found a number of wraps of suspected class A drugs, various drugs paraphernalia, further mobile phones and a safe containing £2,968.34 in cash.

The contents of the wraps were analysed and found to contain 19.8 grams of heroin and 23.2 grams of crack cocaine. The street value of the drugs was estimated at between £3,450 and £5,210.

Willis was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and released on police bail to attend at Weymouth police station on Thursday, January 5 2017, however he failed to attend.

On Monday, August 14 2017 an officer on duty in Bridport saw the defendant near to the Bridport Medical Centre with a small black rucksack on his back.

The officer attempted to stop Willis but he turned and ran in the opposite direction. The officer was joined by colleagues and Willis was located a short time later at an address in Princess Road.

The defendant struggled with two officers who approached him, pushing one of them out of the way and causing them to fall backwards. He was arrested as he attempted to leave the property.

Willis was found to be in possession of a green-handled folding knife and two mobile phones. In his rucksack were a number of wraps. 

Analysis revealed 336 wraps of crack cocaine with a total weight of 24.3 grams and 82 wraps of heroin with a total weight of 6.44 grams. The drugs had an estimated street value of £4,200.

Detective Constable Declan Cummings, of Weymouth CID, said: “Andre Willis was an active drug dealer in the Dorchester and Bridport areas for a number of months and was found in possession of a significant quantity of class A drugs on two occasions.

“We are committed to tackling the supply of class A drugs in our communities and will continue to take action against dealers such as Willis who are involved in the supply chain.

“I hope the sentence imposed by the court demonstrates that those found to be involved in this supply will face lengthy jail terms.

“I would urge members of the public to contact us about any concerns they have over drug-related activity in their area by calling Dorset Police on 101 or emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk.”