A man has been jailed after officers found 28 bags of cocaine following a proactive stop in Aldershot.

Officers were patrolling the town when they noticed suspicious behaviour linked to a red Nissan Micra on Redan Road on Sunday 28 July last year.

Following a search of the vehicle, officers found 28 bags of cocaine which had been hidden inside a sock.

Constantin-Ionel Iamandi, 24, of Coombe Road, New Malden, was charged with possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A and using a vehicle without third party insurance.

Iamandi pleaded guilty to both offences and was jailed for a total of 20 months at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday 9 January.

A/Police Sergeant Daniel Eaves, from the Hart and Rushmoor Priority Crime Team, said: “Our officers arrested Iamandi after finding a significant amount of cocaine in his car in Aldershot.

“He was arrested, charged and later pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court. This sentence means we have removed another drug dealer from our streets.

“I hope the result highlights that our officers will do everything in their power to ensure Hart and Rushmoor is not targeted by drugs networks.

“We know that drug supply causes harm and misery to our communities and is linked to acquisitive crime, as well as some of the most serious violence we see.

“We want you to know that we will relentlessly pursue criminals so that their lives, not those of local people, are a misery.”