A HARLOW man has been jailed for three years for knife possession and drugs and driving offences.

Officers from Harlow Community Policing Team spotted Kevin Bruno driving erratically in Howard Way, Harlow, and subsequently pulled him over.

When approaching his vehicle, officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis and saw Bruno trying to conceal items in his waistband.

A search of Bruno’s vehicle revealed a plastic bag containing 21 ‘deal bags’ of cannabis, while officers also found cocaine.

A grey smartphone also seized showed multiple messages relating to the selling of drugs.

On searching Bruno, the officers recovered a lock knife and £220 in cash.

A further search of Bruno’s home address located more cannabis, cocaine powder and a rock of cocaine, and £135 cash.

Bruno was also found to be driving while disqualified and, therefore, with no insurance.

Bruno, 29, of Ram Gorse, appeared before Harlow magistrates on Monday, April 15.

They sentenced him to a total of three years in jail for the six charges he admitted.

This includes possession with intent to supply cocaine, for which he got two years and five months’ jail, as well as possession with intent to supply cannabis, for which he received 20 weeks’ jail, both to run concurrently.

In addition, he has been given six months in jail for possession of a bladed article and four weeks for driving while disqualified.

He was also banned from driving for 28 months and six points were placed on his driving licence.

Lastly, his licence was endorsed with six points for driving without insurance.

The court made an order for the forfeiture of the cash and the forfeiture and destruction of Bruno’s knife, phone, drugs and drugs paraphernalia.

After the hearing, investigating officer PC Samuel Chilvers said: “Bruno was clearly up to no good and the amount of drugs our officers located on his person, in his car and at his home indicated that he was dealing.

“We take this sort of behaviour, and the fact that he was carrying a knife, very seriously in Essex, and  I am pleased that our officers have taken another dangerous weapon off our streets so it can do no harm.

“No good ever comes of carrying a knife – quite often it is those who say they carry them for their own protection who end up having their own knives used against them.”