Drug dealer jailed after being stopped by officers out on patrol in Ripley

A drug dealer has been jailed for more than two years after being caught by officers out on patrol in Ripley. 

Two officers were conducting plain-clothes patrols in the town on Wednesday 14 February when they saw a man get into a Ford Puma parked on Coppice Farm Road. 

Officers noted how the man quickly got back out again and the car was then driven away from the area.  

The man was identified as Adam Rice who had several pieces of intelligence linking him to dealing Class A drugs in Ripley. 

He was stopped and searched, during which officers found nine wraps of suspected heroin and crack cocaine in his coat pockets. 

He was arrested and taken to a police station following the incident on but gave a no comment interview. 

The 47-year-old, of Meadow Court, Kilburn, later admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine. 

He was jailed for two years and three months during an appearance at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday 22 October. 

Sergeant Jo-Anne Brooks, of the Amber Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are pleased that Rice has been taken off our streets and so disrupted the supply of Class A drugs into the town. 

“Officers were actually out on patrol looking for a wanted person for an unrelated matter when we noticed Rice acting suspiciously.  

“This is a prime example of the benefits of conducting regular patrols in our communities, and why we make use of stop search powers.

“Our officers are always out and about, both in high-visibility uniforms and in plain-clothes, ready to bring criminals to justice who are causing issues within our communities.”