A DRUG dealer, who assaulted officers after he was found with Class A drugs and a zombie knife, has been jailed for more than three years.

The weapons, drugs and criminal have now safely been removed from the county’s streets thanks to the work of the West Operation Raptor team.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how officers from the West Operation Raptor teams were patrolling in the Peterswood area of Harlow on 8th October last year when they spotted 19- Negus Simmons acting suspiciously at the bottom of a footpath.

When officers asked what he was doing he ran aggressively towards them. As officers tried to detain him on the ground he elbowed one police constable in the face and continued to resist.

He was arrested and searched and found to have six rocks of suspected Class A drugs (four of crack cocaine and two of heroin), as well as a Zombie knife, cash and a phone linking him to the supply of Class a drugs.

Simmons was taken to Harlow police station where a strip search found him to be concealing further drugs in his bottom.

Following the discovery Simmons again became aggressive and attacked officers, biting one on the hand.

The package was recovered and was found to contain a further 10 rocks of Class A drugs.

A later search of Simmons’ home in Joyners Field, Harlow also uncovered a bag of cannabis, a pot containing drug residue, a ‘tick list’ of Simmons’ customers and £135 cash.

Simmons was charged and appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to: two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply, possessing a Class B drug, possessing a bladed article and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was jailed for a total of three years and two months.

Det Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor team said: “Essex Police will not tolerate people who think they can sell drugs on the streets of our county or anyone who thinks they can assault us when we arrest them

“Simmons and those like him have no regard for the harm their drug selling causes, both in terms of the harm it causes individuals who take substances and the wider community where they commit their crimes.

“Simmons also had no regard for police and the tough job we do when he assaulted both me and one of my team. No-one within the criminal justice system will tolerate assaults on us, the very people who work hard to keep everyone safe.

“Operation Raptor remains committed to seeking out those involved in drug and gang-related crime and continuing to arrest them and remove them, their drugs and their weapons from our streets.”

Simmons was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 3 April.

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.
If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.