A 20-year-old drug dealer has been jailed after pleading guilty at Reading Crown Court this month.

Erlon Billa, 20, of Portman Way, Reading appeared in court on Friday, June 14 where he was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply cannabis, acquiring criminal property and driving a motor vehicle without insurance.

This is in relation to an incident at around 12:30am on January 21, when officers pulled into a shell garage in Basingstoke Road where Billa was at the pumps in a silver BMW.

After he was detained by police, the Reading man provided false details and attempted to run away,  but tripped and was detained again.

During a search of his car, police found bags of cannabis on an open rucksack on the rear seat along with 43 small bags of suspected class A drugs.

Within the rucksack and a black bin bag under the drivers’ seat, officers found further quantities of cannabis.

Billa also had £235 in cash and an iPhone in his possession, and was arrested the next day.

Detective Sergeant Jon Nicholls, based at Reading police station, said: “We will never tolerate drug dealing in our communities and we will continue to proactively target and prosecute offenders.

“This activity will be both visible and covert, aimed at disrupting and pursuing offenders involved in the supply of drugs.

“The information from the public around drug supply in Reading plays a vital part in developing intelligence into a proactive investigation.

“We would urge anybody with information to report it to us via our website or by calling 101.”

Billa was sentenced to a total of two years’ imprisonment, given six points on his driving licence and ordered to forfeit drugs, phones and cash to the value of £305.