On 20 October 2023, officers in plain clothes were in Luton Road when they saw a man getting into a taxi they suspected was involved in drug supply.
Rimel Hanchard was removed from the vehicle and the constables seized a sheathed knife from his waistband that was 25 centimetres long. A further search recovered three packages from his trousers that contained a total of more than 200 wraps of cocaine and heroin. The constables also located £630 in his pockets.
Hanchard, formerly of Orpington, Greater London, was arrested and taken into custody. He was later charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of heroin with intent to supply, possession of a knife in a public place and possessing criminal property (namely the seized cash).
Hanchard pleaded guilty to all four indictments at Maidstone Crown Court and, on Wednesday 1 May 2024, the 22-year-old was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment. The seized cash was also forfeited.
PC Oliver Matcham, of Kent Police’s County Lines and Gangs Team, said: ‘This dealer travelled to Kent armed with a large knife and was intent on selling a significant number of class A drug deals. He stood to make a considerable profit whilst causing misery for the communities of Chatham.
‘Bringing such a dangerous weapon onto the streets posed a considerable risk to local people until he was successfully detained by our proactive officers. A prison sentence was the only possible conclusion to his criminal activities.’
