An Orpington drug dealer who played a crucial part in a network supplying cocaine throughout Tunbridge Wells has been jailed for four years.

Liman Dernova, 22, of Tandridge Drive, helped deliver drugs through a dedicated ‘customer’ phone line, which users would text orders and addresses to between May and November 2019.

He first came to the attention of police a suspicious VW Passat was stopped on Mountfield Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, in May 2019.

The car was searched and a deodorant bottle containing three wraps of cocaine was located. Dernova was traveling in the car and arrested.

A phone was seized which showed messages indicating the supply of drugs, using postcodes to direct runners.

Dernova’s DNA was matched to both the deodorant bottle and the wraps.

Dernova’s accomplice, Bledar Rica, 27, was also arrested in May and July for drugs possession after his car was stopped by police.

On the second occasion, he deliberately rammed a police car which attempted to block him.

Officers had to smash a window of his car to arrest him, seizing £200 in cash and a cigarette packet containing 21 wraps of cocaine.

A nearby address was also searched where more cash, drugs and documents in Rica’s name were discovered.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Rica, of Clay Avenue, Mitcham, Surrey pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

He admitted further charges of dangerous driving and possessing or controlling identity documents with intent.

Dernova pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

On 29 May 2020 Rica was sentenced to five years and seven months’ imprisonment. Dernova was sentenced four years and one month.

District Commander for Tunbridge Wells, Chief Inspector Pete Steenhuis said: "Rica and Dernova were instrumental in a supply chain designed to distribute drugs to as many users as possible, however our use of both uniformed and plain clothes officers is making it very hard for criminals to operate in this town and there will be no let-up in our determination to keep these people off our streets.

"Remember that we also continue to need your help, so please always report any suspicious behaviour. By continuing to work together we are getting the message through to criminals that ultimately we will ensure their actions result in prison sentences."