A DRUG dealer was caught in Southend sleeping next to a pile of Class A drug wraps.

John Abrahams was found inside a flat in Cluny Square, Southend, where he had also stashed a machete and hundreds of pounds in a safe.

Essex Police's South Operation Raptor Team raided the flat on March 12 where they found the 29-year-old asleep with the Class A drugs stacked on the beside table.

Officers searched the flat where they found 20 grams of heroin worth around £4,000, 18 grams of crack cocaine worth more than £3,000, three grams of cocaine and 90 grams of cannabis, worth around £1,000, in pots around the property.

There was more than £1,000 in cash lying around the flat; as well as digital scales and other drug dealing paraphernalia.

A safe, found on the balcony of the property, was also found to contain the large machete and nearly £700 in cash.

Abrahams of Lynmouth Road, Stamford Hill, North London was arrested and charged with three counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply.

He admitted the charges during a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on Monday and was jailed for three years.

Abrahams denied a further charge of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply and this was ordered to lie on file.

A spokesman for the South Operation Raptor team said: “This is an excellent result with a drug dealer, a significant amount of Class A and B drugs and a weapon all removed from the streets of Southend.

"There is absolutely no place for illegal drugs on the streets of our county and Operation Raptor will continue to protect and serve our residents by seeking out those who, like Abrahams, mistakenly think they can commit this type of crime on our streets – they can’t.

"If anyone is under the illusion that drug dealing is a lucrative career, think again, here in Essex we will be waiting to arrest you, charge you and put you behind bars as well as seizing the cash earnt from the proceeds of supplying illegal drugs.”

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

Report crimes on 101 or online at www.essex.police.uk. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.