A WOMAN from Clacton has been jailed after being caught trying to flush cocaine and heroin down the toilet.

Nicola Bennett, of Page Road, Clacton, has been locked up for three and a half years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Police secured a warrant to raid an address in Holbrook Close last year based on suspected drug activity.

They executed the warrant on April 10 2015 and found Nicola Bennett inside.

Drug bust cops said they found Bennett, 42, trying to dispose of items in the toilet.

When they checked the toilet they found suspected controlled substances floating in it.

Samples were taken and later confirmed to be a mixture of crack cocaine and heroin.

Bennett was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of controlled substances with intent to supply.

She was later charged and a court date was set.

Bennett denied the charges and pleaded not guilty, but was convicted on Thursday last week at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The judge sentenced her to three and a half years in prison.

District commander chief insp Russ Cole hailed the result and said officers are looking to clamp down on drug dealers targeting Clacton.

"Drugs blight our community and cause misery to those affected by them,” he said.

"People dealing drugs often target the most vulnerable people in society and it is an issue Essex Police takes very seriously.

"Taking Nicola Bennett off our streets means residents have been protected and the supply of Class A drugs into the community has been disrupted.

"I hope this conviction will send a message out to people in Clacton that Essex Police will not tolerate drug dealing and anyone caught doing it will face the consequences of their actions.”