TWO teenage drug dealers have received suspended prison sentences after one was found with drugs in his pants following a police chase.

Mohammed Mohammud and Michael Evans were arrested in St Paul's Street, Worcester as part of Operation Blade which seeks to prevent drugs and associated crime spreading into the city across county lines, often from larger cities like Birmingham and Liverpool.

Mohammud, aged 19, of Roshven Road, Birmingham and Evans, 18, of no fixed abode but formerly of Worcester both admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin when they appeared together at Hereford Crown Court. Evans further admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

The court heard how both men were arrested on January 12 this year

after police became concerned about the pair's suspicious activity.

DC Grant Fraser said Mohammud ran away when he confronted by officers but was arrested. Some drugs were found at the time of his arrest and the rest in his underwear when he was brought to custody.

In total officers found £1,200 of drugs (112 wraps) of heroin and crack cocaine.

Evans was detained in a car at the same time as Mohammud was arrested.

Both men had already served two months on remand when they appeared for their sentencing hearing.

DC Fraser said after the court hearing: "We continue to target anyone who peddles drugs in Worcester and will continue to disrupt those coming to deal class A drugs in the city."

Both men received prison sentences of 22 months, suspended for two years.

A two year supervision requirement was also imposed and they must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 45 days of rehabilitation.

Before passing sentence the judge made reference to them having no previous offending history as being a major factor in the decision to suspend the sentences.

Their youth and early guilty pleas were also considered to be mitigation in their favour as was the support their own families had been willing to offer them.