A DRUG dealer tried to throw away 164 wraps of heroin as he struggled to flee police.

Tyrese Nyakunengwa has been sent to a youth detention facility for two years after police caught him in Laindon in December.

The 18-year-old was spotted by police in the front passenger seat of a BMW on December 11, and officers became suspicious of the vehicle.

When they tried to get it to pull over, the vehicle fled. After a short pursuit the occupants ditched the car and ran.

Officers pursued Nyakunengwa into a park area and managed to catch up to him.

Following a struggle, he was detained by the officers who searched him.

They also recovered a pack of 164 wraps of heroin, weighing 23 grams, which Nyakunengwa had tried to throw away when he was being chased.

When he was taken to the police station, around 2.8 grams of cannabis was found on him, which was for his personal use.

In total, the amount of heroin and cash that was seized from Nyakunengwa was worth £3,953.

Nyakunengwa, of Swanstead, Vange, later went on to admit two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing Class B drugs and possessing criminal property.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday via video link to be sentenced.

Mitigating, Patrick Harte said that Nyakunengwa had made progress in bettering himself since the incident, and that he had been influenced by other people into drug dealing.

He said: “He is a low risk of further offending and has been in custody for six months.

“He will be able to contribute positively to society.

“It’s my submission that he can, exceptionally, finish his sentence on the outside.”

Judge Ian Graham told Nyakunengwa: “What makes this matter more serious is you have a previous conviction in 2018 with a referral order for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

“That should have been a very clear warning for you to stay away from these matters.

“You were clearly acting on instructions from others.”

Nyakunengwa received two years in a detention facility for having the heroin and concurrent sentences for the other counts.