A DRUG dealer who operated a line in Colchester before he was arrested desperately tried to discard bags of drugs in the backseat of a police car whilst he was being taken to custody, a court heard.

Riontae Graham had been spotted standing in a wooded area by police officers who were patrolling Mace Walk – an area well-known for drug dealing – in Chelmsford in October 2022.

Officers then approached Graham, 23, who fled on foot before running headlong into two other patrolling officers, who detained and handcuffed him.

Fiona McAddy, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday how police then found an iPhone and a Nokia burner phone when they searched Graham at the scene.

Gazette: Sentencing – Riontae Graham was told he should expect 'anything less than a custodial sentence' as a result of his offendingSentencing – Riontae Graham was told he should expect 'anything less than a custodial sentence' as a result of his offending (Image: Newsquest)

After inspecting the phone, police found evidence of Graham operating a drug line known as the “Fred line”, with one message on the phone reading: “0.2 dark for £10, 0.3 light for £20.”

Graham then attempted to escape officers whilst he was detained, but was restrained again and taken to a police car to be driven to a police station.

On the way there, Graham – who was still handcuffed – managed to discard bags of drugs he had hidden in his trousers.

Ms McAddy continued: “During the journey, he kept trying to put his hands into his trousers and officers had to physically stop him on a number of occasions.

“Intimate searches found nothing.

“A package of drugs was then found in the rear of vehicle – this was a pack of drugs which had been discarded by Graham on the way to custody.”

The packets of drugs – which contained crack cocaine and diamorphine – had a combined street value of about £1,000, Ms McAddy said.

Gazette: Hotspot – the prosecution said Mace Walk, Chelmsford, is a known area for drug dealingHotspot – the prosecution said Mace Walk, Chelmsford, is a known area for drug dealing (Image: Google Street View)

The court heard how police later searched Graham’s address – Elizabeth Court in Woodford Green – and found a third phone and £2,000 in cash.

Ms McAddy continued by explaining Graham “performed an operational or management function” in drug dealing, before Judge Loram interrupted, saying: “I think he was the operation – he was leading the line.”

Graham will be sentenced on April 11.

Judge Loram added: “This does not mean for a moment you can expect anything other than a custodial sentence as a result of this significant period of offences.”