AN armed drug dealer with nearly £12,000 in drugs was tackled to the ground by a courageous Worcester police officer after the suspect was caught red-handed plying his trade.

Omari Edwards, who was armed with a lock knife, was 'rugby tackled' by a detective and sprayed in the face with incapacitant after he ran from city police having already lashed out another officer, injuring her.

The 24-year-old of Avondale Road, Birmingham was jailed for four years and nine months when he appeared over prison videolink at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after officers brought down a County Lines drugs operation known as the 'Craig line'.

Edwards, who already had a drug dealing conviction, admitted possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, possession of a lock knife, possession of criminal property (cash from dealing), resisting an officer in the execution of their duties and possession of cannabis after he was brought down by officers following a chase through the streets of Worcester on March 23 this year.

In total Edwards had £11,770 of class A drugs when he was arrested - 47 g of heroin (worth £4,720) and 70g of crack cocaine (worth £7,050) and more than £3,048 cash, the proceeds of his dealing, and a Nokia phone.

The drugs had been divided up into deals. A later search of his home address in Birmingham also resulted in the seizure of 13 wraps.

Officers had been on plain clothes patrol when they identified suspicious activity in Carden Close, near City Walls Road in Worcester.

John Brotherton, prosecuting, said of the defendant: "He was told to stay where he was. He didn't."

The defendant, known to users as 'Craig', ran out of Carden Close and into Carden Street and in the struggle that followed lashed out, striking an officer who received a cut to the inside of her top lip.

However, he was brought down by a rugby tackle. As well as the drugs and cash, officers also recovered the knife.

Judge Nicholas Cole said DC Jason Atkins was to be commended for 'tackling the suspect to the floor in a rugby style tackle'. DC Alex Pullen also assisted and PAVA spray was deployed.

Officers had been concerned that Edwards was either reaching for a weapon in his waistband or was attempting to dispose of drugs. The judge noted: "He didn't go quietly."

The Nokia phone showed evidence of County Lines dealing including generic global messages sent out to users, one message being sent to around 70 recipients.

Edwards 'remained silent' in police interview. The defendant had a previous conviction for possession with intent to supply class A drugs from June 2017 which resulted in three years detention in a Young Offender Institution, his previous conviction taken as an aggravating feature of the case.

A further offence of assault with intent to rob in 2015 also resulted his detention.

Mark Moore, defending, said there had been 'an element of panic' when police arrived and he had been dealing to clear a debt. The advocate described how Edwards had 'significant scarring on his face' after he became the victim of an attack which had caused him some anxiety and depression.

He added: "What he wants to do is become a role model so far as his son is concerned, not an individual who is locked up in prison but someone who is a useful member of society."

Judge Nicholas Cole praised the diligence of Worcester officers. He said: "Those who involve themselves in bringing class A drugs to the streets of this city can only expect one sentence and that is immediate custody. Those who become addicted to these drugs quite often experience the misery of ill-health that addiction brings. It also leads to criminality in stealing in order to fund the addiction."

Edwards can expect to serve half the term in custody and half on licence in the community. A proceeds of crime timetable has been drawn up to look at confiscation of the criminal cash.

Time served on remand will count towards the sentence.