A MANHUNT is underway after police lost track of a knife-carrying drug dealer who has been ordered to go to jail for nine years.

Thames Valley Police have urged anyone who sees Adrian Tarft roaming the streets or hiding out to contact them on 999 immediately so they can arrest him.

The 37-year-old was caught with a haul of drugs and criminal cash when he was stopped and searched by police due to outstanding court fines.

Police searched the van he was driving on April 5 and found three large knives, scales, a blender and Benzocaine, a cutting agent for cocaine.

Tarft was arrested, charged, and later ordered to appear at Reading Crown Court for a trial.

But the 37-year-old failed to attend the hearings and was convicted unanimously on a string of drug-related counts by jurors.

He is still on the loose however and investigating officers are desperate to track him down.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "He was convicted unanimously on all counts following a three-day trial which concluded on 23 August of possession with intent to supply a class A drug - cocaine, possession with intent to supply a class A drug - MDMA, possession of criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act and three counts of possessing an article with a blade or point.

"A quantity of cocaine was seized from him along with £3,425 in cash.

"The van Tarft was using was searched and MDMA was recovered along with scales, a blender and Benzocaine, a cutting agent for cocaine."

A judge jailed Tarft, of Springhurst, The Nightingales, Newbury, for a total of nine months.

Anyone who know's Tarft's whereabouts should dial 999 immediately.

Chris Eaton, the officer who searched Tarft's van, said: "I would urge anyone who sees Tarft to call 999 to allow us to detain him so that he can serve his sentence of imprisonment.

"The money seized has been subject to forfeiture by the court and shows that crime doesn't pay. The length of the sentence should act as a deterrent to others thinking of selling drugs."