A south Essex drug dealer has spent Christmas behind bars after bags of white powder and £17k in cash were discovered in a police raid.

John Dady, was convicted of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs following a trial on Thursday (December 22) at Basildon Crown Court.

A warrant was carried out at the 52 year-old’s home address in Crammavill Street, Grays on 2 July 2019.

When officers searched the address, they found a number of bags of white powder, two mobile phones, and a bag containing £17,000 in cash.

Dady had been on holiday in Spain at the time but was arrested on his return to the UK on July 10.

When the white powder was forensically analysed, it was found to include cocaine with a street value of between £1,000 and £2,000.

During his trial he was forced to admit he had lied to police officers during the course of the investigation.

Dady has been jailed for four years.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Richard Walker, from Essex Police's Serious and Organise Crime Unit, said: “John Dady polluted our communities with Class A drugs and benefited from the misery and exploitation of others.

“He is now facing the foreseeable future behind bars thanks to our investigation.

“Drugs ruin communities and destroy lives and we won’t stop our work to identify, target, and bring to justice those responsible for their sale.”