An armed drug dealer caught by police during an operation targeted at gangs has been jailed.

Lerone Vincent, 23, of Nutfield Road, Thornton Heath was sentenced yesterday at Croydon Crown Court to seven years in prison for charges including possession of cocaine and heroine with intent to supply, and possession of a hand gun.

Vincent, was spotted driving a Renault Megane by officers patrolling Thornton Heath on October 1 last year as part of an operation to identify and target people they believed to be involved in drug dealing and gang crime.

Officers from Croydon's Safer Transport Team followed the car as Vincent sped off and eventually cornered him in Green Lane Gardens, a dead end, where the vehicle stopped.

A search of the car found several wraps of heroine and cocaine as well as a gun, hidden in the dashboard.

He was remanded in custody and appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, January 19, where he pleaded guilty to all four crimes.

Detective Constable Troy Benn, from the Met's Trident Gang Crime Command, who investigated the case, said: "This result came about from the good work of the Safer Transport officers who spotted Vincent acting suspiciously as he was driving his car.

"When they pulled up behind him, he sped off and no-doubt tried to lose them, but he was caught and a dangerous drug dealer has now been taken off the streets because of it.

"We will now be carrying out a financial investigation into Vincent and we'll be applying for a confiscation order for any assets we believe he has gained as a result of his drug dealing."