A drug dealer has been jailed for five years after he was tackled to the ground by an officer who caught him with heroin and crack cocaine in Basingstoke.

Officers were carrying out patrols when they were contacted by a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Community Safety Patrol Officer who noticed suspected drug-related activity in the West Ham Park playground on Sunday 10 May.

Oliver Brandao, 23, of Brynbedw Road, Ferndale, Wales, attempted the flee the scene but was detained by a police officer after a short foot chase.

Following a search, officers located £740 in cash and a bottle which contained crack cocaine and heroin. Brandao was later charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A.

Brandao pleaded guilty to both offences and was jailed for three years and six months for the drugs offences. He was also jailed for an additional 18 months after a suspended sentence order was activated at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 14 August.

Detective Constable Christian Onslow, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Oliver Brandao was supplying Class A drugs to users in Basingstoke, and on this day, he was spotted in the local area.

“Our officers responded to reports of suspected drug-related activity and managed to detain Brandao after successfully catching him following a short foot chase.

“He was found to have cocaine, heroin and more than £700 in cash and was later charged with drugs offences.

“Brandao will now spend a considerable time behind bars for dealing drugs and I hope this sentence highlights that our officers will do everything in their power to ensure Basingstoke is not targeted by drugs networks.”