AN ALLEGED teenage crack cocaine and heroin dealer was caught “red-handed” in a Stroud car park, a jury was told yesterday.

James Joyce, 18, of Hucclecote Road, Gloucester has pleaded not guilty to possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and is standing trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

Prosecuting barrister Ian Fenny told the jury on the first day of the trial: “On April 24th police officers were observing suspected Class A drug users in Stroud and they approached a parked Rover car.

“Three hours later the car returned and entered the Tesco Express car park.”

Mr Fenny said that the drug-users went up to the car and when the police approached them three men in the back seat of the Rover, including the defendant, ran away.

“There was a chase and a youth, another man and the defendant were caught and arrested,” said Mr Fenny

“On the back seat where the defendant had been sitting was a large number of wraps of heroin and crack cocaine, about £1,000 worth in street deals.”

When the defendant was searched three wraps of Class A drugs and two mobile phones were discovered, the court was told.

“The phones – including a third phone found on the back seat of the Rover – were interrogated and drug-related text messages were found,” said Mr Fenny.

When interviewed by the police the defendant said that he did not know the driver of the car and he only got in because he thought they were all going into town to meet girls, the court heard.

“He said that he had no idea that there were drugs in the car and before he ran away he put on a jacket which happened to have three wraps of Class A drugs in the pockets,” said the barrister.

Joyce said that he ran away because he thought he had some cannabis on him and he panicked when he saw the police.

The trial continues today (Tuesday).