Bristol: Man jailed after dealing drugs during lockdowns

Ashhad Kalwatar was arrrested after a police operation targeting street dealers

A man has been jailed for more than four years after dealing drugs during coronavirus lockdowns.

Ashhad Kalwatar, 26, of Wells Road, Bristol, admitted the supply of cocaine and cannabis between August 2020 and January 2021.

Avon and Somerset Police say officers found more than 41g (1.44oz) of high purity cocaine as well as 246g (8.6oz) of cannabis in Kalwatar's vehicle.

He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 12 December.

Kalwatar was stopped by officers on Armada Place in Kingsdown, Bristol, on 22 January 2021 - while the country was in its third lockdown due to the Covid pandemic.

The force said officers were carrying out an operation to target on-street drug dealing in response to tip-offs from the community.

Further investigation linked Kalwatar to the supply of a range of drugs over the six months leading up to his arrest.

He also admitted of supply MDMA (ecstasy) and ketamine during the same period.

Kalwatar was jailed for a total of four years and eight months for drug offences.