A TEENAGE drug dealer has been locked up after clocking up 55 offences by the age of 19.

Officers in Colchester’s community policing team became suspicious of Abdi Ahmed.

He turned out to have copious amounts of cocaine taped to one of his legs and a lock knife in his pocket.

Police stopped the unlicensed driver in Quayside Drive, Colchester.

Patrick Dennis, prosecuting, said: “At 4.40pm two officers saw the defendant driving a Ford Fiesta. The defendant was stopped. Originally he gave a false name and stated he had a driving licence.”

He later admitted giving a fake date of birth three times and gave his correct details.

When Ahmed, of Elm Crescent, Colchester, was about to be strip searched at the police station he said “OK, I have a couple of things to admit”.

He told officers about the knife and the drugs and they found 79 wraps of cocaine were found in a bag attached to his left leg. He also had £285 in cash.

Mr Dennis said: “While being booked into custody he said: ‘I know I am a drug dealer but I am not all bad.’”

Earlier this year, he admitted possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply, possession of a knife, taking a vehicle without consent, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

This took him to 27 convictions for 55 offences including a previous conviction for dealing drugs and possession of a knife.

Penny Simons, mitigating, said: “He has been in care since he was nine after he was physically abused.”

She told the court he was in a taxi crash aged 13 when his friend died which caused several problems to his mental health.

She added: “He was sofa surfing with crack addicts who were the only ones who would give him a roof over his head.

“He is tuberculosis contagious. He is selling drugs to survive. He owed £5,000 to drug dealers. He paid back £1,500 and they wanted more back. He thinks it is the only way he can earn money.”

Judge Patricia Lynch sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in a young offenders’ institution for possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and a further six months for his second possession of a weapon offence, when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He will not serve any extra time for taking a car without consent but will have six points on any future licence for driving without insurance.

Ahmed, of Elm Crescent, Colchester, will serve his sentence in a Young Offenders’ Institute.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC said: “You are still only 19 and what a mess you are making of things.

“You are going to have to get yourself sorted out.”