A forgetful drug dealer accidentally gave police officers access to a drug line’s phone after they found a list of passwords for the devices he kept.

Sean Clark, 34, was stopped by police officers in Hythe Hill, Colchester, after they believed they had witnessed a drug deal.

Inside the Skoda Octavia which Clark was driving on October 3, 2019, was £514 in cash and a “burner” mobile phone.

The police officers managed to gain access to the phone after finding an image listing all the passwords for the drug line’s devices, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Gazette: Drug deal - Sean Clark was stopped in Hythe HillDrug deal - Sean Clark was stopped in Hythe Hill (Image: Google)

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said: “This then revealed that both the phones and sim card found within the car had messages on them which clearly related to drug supply.”

Ms Tucker said another phone detectives were probing had received messages advertising “fat rock sizes” of drugs and “delivery to any postcode” from Clark’s phone.

The court heard illicit goods being sold included crack cocaine, heroin, MDMA and cannabis.

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“It’s clear the defendant was in contact with about 121 potential customers,” added Ms Tucker.

Nick Ferrari, mitigating, said Clark was, “to some degree”, operating under the direction of someone higher up in the drug chain.

He argued: “If he was acting on his own line then he would not need the passcodes to the phones written down.

Gazette: Sentencing - Ipswich Crown CourtSentencing - Ipswich Crown Court

“It is clear there is an inherent issue of pressure on others to get involved in this sort of offending.”

Mr Ferrari continued: “He says the arrest was a wake-up call. He has sorted his life out and got a job as a delivery driver.”

Clark, of Seven Sisters Road, north London, admitted three counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and one count of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Deputy Circuit Judge David Pugh said: “This was three years ago and you have not offended since and you are in employment.

“I am satisfied you are remorseful and have done something to change your life."

Clark was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

He will be bound by an electronically monitored curfew for six months.