Drug dealer who tried to dupe officers with fake licence before arrest in Capel St Mary jailed at Ipswich Crown Court

A drug dealer who tried to dupe officers with a counterfeit licence on his phone has been jailed.

Alberto Deda, 23, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday.

Earlier in the same hearing, he admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of a counterfeit identity document with intent to deceive and driving without a licence or insurance, having appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on July 13.

Deda, of no fixed address, was caught by officers driving a London-based hire car in Capel St Mary on July 12.

He was the only person in the car at the time and was arrested after an amount of cocaine equivalent to 17 deals, as well as £270 in cash, were seized from the vehicle.

Deda used a false address in Ipswich to hire the car, the court was told.

When confronted by officers, he displayed a fake licence from his phone.

This phone also contained messages directing him to meetings with cocaine users to sell them drugs, the court heard.

After his arrest, he admitted he did not have a driving licence, meaning he was not insured to drive the rental car.

David Logan, sergeant for Suffolk Police’s South Sentinel Team, said his team were pleased that Deda was brought to justice.

“Our team exists to keep Suffolk residents safe from people like Deda and his cocaine-using customers who drive on our roads,” he said.

“Thankfully, his phone highlighted his customers to us and they can expect to be drug wiped at the roadside soon.”