A DRUG dealer who dodged police for four years is finally behind bars.

Shaun Riley was jailed at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after admitting possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply in the city.

His jail sentence comes nearly five years after he was Tasered by police in Warndon, Worcester after he fled officers and nearly four years after he was due to be sentenced.

Riley and his co-defendant were discovered with more than £1,100 worth of class A drugs which they attempted to discard as they fled.

The 29-year-old of Dingle Street, Oldbury, was due to be sentenced in May 2015 but did not attend court after suffering seizures. A warrant was issued for his arrest. His co-defendant was sentenced to three years at the time. Both had pleaded guilty at the same hearing on March 23, 2015.

Because Riley did not surrender to custody within a reasonable amount of time after his recovery he delayed the case. As a result admitted a of a bail act offence when the charge was put to him this week.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said Riley and his co-defendant were observed by police in a hired black Peugeot in Avon Road and Teme Road, Tolladine.

Both men were wearing high visibility tabards. Police stopped the car in Ambleside Drive in Warndon, Worcester, and officers noticed that Riley was ‘nervous and shaking’.

Mr Conry said: “He ran off for a short period and it was noted that he threw away two small bags on the pavement. He was arrested following the discharge of a Taser.”

Police found 53 wraps of crack cocaine and seven of heroin with an estimated street value of £1,130.

Mobile phones were also seized and showed evidence of drug dealing and internet searches about how much they could make in Worcester selling drugs.

The Peugeot had been hired the previous day. A search of the car boot revealed a cannabis grinder and £105 in cash.

Riley had one previous conviction from 2011 for possession of an offensive weapon for which he received a three month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Richard Hull, defending, said his client had suffered a variety of seizures but accepted that he did nothing to bring himself back to the court once he had recovered.

Mr Hull said Riley had secured employment in the last four years and attended the police station when invited by police. He added: “It doesn’t appear he has done anything to avoid the authorities.

“It would appear he has stayed out of trouble.”

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said Riley and his co-defendant had hired the car and worn the high-visibility tabards to give them the appearance of ‘legitimacy’ and to make them look like ‘people at work’ which he said demonstrated some sophistication.

He said the presence of cash indicated they had already carried out drug dealing transactions by the time police intervened and arrested them while internet searches had been made to see how much money could be made, evidence of a financial motive.

The judge said Riley had pleaded guilty to the drugs offences at the first opportunity in the crown court in 2015 but that he had not attended when he was due to be sentenced.

He said: “This is serious because you were at large for a period of getting on for four years.”

The judge acknowledged that Riley did not actively try to hide from the authorities but said he had done nothing to alert them to his whereabouts either.

The judge jailed him for three years and three months.