A DEALER who was caught with two others running a cannabis supply business from a flat in Colchester has been sentenced to three years behind bars.

Keenan Scott, 24, who was caught after a police raid on a flat in December 2018, was also found in possession of 5.64g of cocaine when he was stopped by officers in Colchester in January 2020.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the cocaine was split into 30 separate portions, indicating it was to be supplied to others.

Scott admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine on the basis that it was “a misguided attempt” to pay off a debt.

Recorder Simon Mayo QC said: “At that time, as you well understood, you had been released under investigation although not yet charged in respect of the cannabis supply business being run from that flat in Colchester.”

He also admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis in relation to the 2018 raid.

Also caught in the raid on the flat in Colchester were Ricardo Alves, 24, and 23-year-old Emilio Plummer.

Alves, of Venture Chase, Colchester, admitted two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis, the second relating to the seizure of his phone at a festival in August 2019.

Examination revealed he had been “sporadically” been supplying cannabis between March and June that year.

Plummer, of Quayside Drive, Colchester, denied a single count of possession with intent to supply cannabis, but was convicted after a trial.

Scott was sentenced to three years behind bars, with the 15 months he has already spent in custody to count towards his sentence.

Alves received a prison term of 21 months, suspended for two years, He will remain subject to a curfew for three months, keeping him indoors between 10pm and 7am, and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Mayo said: “I want you to be abundantly clear about this – you are today being given a chance, a chance to prove the progress you’ve made recently will continue and that you’ll keep out of trouble.”

Plummer was handed a community order with the same curfew, 100 hours of unpaid work and an order to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.