A London drug dealer has been locked up for supplying crack and heroin on the streets of Ipswich.

Plain-clothed police saw Kashief Laidley complete a deal in an alleyway next to Broomhill Park, where he was then joined by Ipswich woman Diana Phambala, on January 20.

Both cycled to Phambala’s Norwich Court flat, in Chevallier Street, where police arrested the pair – along with Simon Byamukama – and seized a quantity of cash and class A drugs.

Laidley, 24, of Oakfield Road, Croydon, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, after admitting being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Phambala, 38, who pleaded guilty to permitting a premises to be used for the preparation of cocaine and heroin, received a six-month jail sentence, suspended for six months.

Byamukama, 26, of Parchmore Road, in Thornton Heath, Croydon, had admitted being concerned in supplying a quantity of heroin and cocaine, but failed to appear before the court for medical reasons and will be sentenced at a later date.

The trio were arrested following an operation by the Urban Street Gang Unit, which tackles mainly drug-related criminal activity and associated antisocial behaviour connected to groups of individuals known to each other in the Ipswich area.

Following their arrests, all three were taken to Martlesham Heath police investigation centre, where they were questioned and subsequently changed.

Sergeant Murray Osman from the Urban Street Gang Unit said: “It is of great satisfaction to secure these convictions.

“With support from the public, who provide us with intelligence about suspicious activity in their communities, we will continue to focus our energies on disrupting drug production and supply activity.

“The supply and dealing of illegal drugs will not be tolerated, and residents can be reassured that any information passed to police will be acted on.”

The special urban street gang team was formed by Suffolk police to crack down on violent gang crime in Ipswich.

Its launch followed a report, published last September, about gang culture in Ipswich, related violent crime and antisocial behaviour.