A DRUG dealer was caught trying to sell Class A drugs in Basildon.

Jerome Lee appeared at court yesterday to admit four new offences of possessing Class A and B drugs in the town this year.

On January 8, the 23-year-old was found in Basildon and had four different drugs on him.

He had 0.53 grams of cocaine, along with quantities of cannabis resin, crack cocaine and diamorphine, a painkiller normally used to moderate severe cancer pain.

Lee appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday charged with four counts of possession and possession with intent to supply.

He dressed in a grey Puma jumper and jeans, and spoke only to confirm his name and age, along with entering guilty pleas to all four charges against him.

Ian Cliff, representing Lee, told the court that he had been remanded in custody since he was arrested in January.

He also told the court that Lee was on his “third strike” having committed drugs crimes before the incident.

Mr Cliff asked Judge Samantha Leigh to delay the sentencing for six weeks to allow for a report to be prepared into Lee’s situation.

He stated that he had been kept in a psychiatric ward and had previously tried to harm himself, and there were ongoing issues with mental health.

Judge Leigh agreed to adjourn the sentencing hearing until the week commencing March 23 at the same court.

Lee, of Mellow Purgess, Basildon, was remanded in custody until the next hearing.

Due to the nature of his crimes, and the fact that he has previously offending within the same area of crime, he will be facing a considerable time behind bars.

Anyone with concerns about drugs crime in Essex can contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.