Two drug dealers - one of whom was caught with cocaine hidden in his underpants - have been jailed.

George Groom, 27, and 20-year-old Jack Elliott, were spotted acting suspiciously in Newmans Lane, Loughton, by the West Operation Raptor team on January 6.

The team searched the vehicle until Elliott, of Bobbingworth Mill, Ongar, handed over a bag containing over three grams of cocaine he had concealed in his underpants.

He was arrested and taken to Harlow police station, where he also handed over a bag containing 42 bags of MDMA.

Elliott was charged and pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply and sentenced for two years and three months.

Groom, of Regents Place, Loughton, was searched and found to have a mobile phone linked to the supply of drugs and £80 in cash.

He was charged and found guilty of two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and jailed for four years.

Elliott was jailed for two years and three months and Groom was jailed for four years when the pair appeared for sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Det Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor said: “There is absolutely no doubt that Elliott and Groom were intending to sell the drugs they were found with on the streets of our county.

“Dealers like them have absolutely no regard for the law or for the harm they cause in the communities where they sell their wares.

“Fortunately Operation Raptor are always one step behind them and we will do all we can to catch them and put them behind bars where they belong.”

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.