Harlow: Man sentenced for knife and drugs offences

A Harlow man has been jailed for three years for knife possession and drugs & driving offences.

Just 10 minutes into their shift on 17 March 2024, keen-eyed Harlow Community Policing Team officers spotted Kevin Bruno driving erratically in Howard Way, Harlow, and pulled him over.

As they approached his vehicle, they noticed a strong smell of cannabis and saw Bruno trying to conceal items in his waistband.

A search of Bruno’s vehicle revealed a plastic bag containing 21 ‘deal bags’ of cannabis. Officers also found cocaine.

A grey smart phone also seized at the time showed multiple messages relating to the selling of drugs.

On searching Bruno, the officers recovered a lock knife and £220 in cash.

A further search of Bruno’s home address located more cannabis, cocaine powder and a rock of cocaine, and £135 cash. Bruno was also found to be driving while disqualified and, therefore, with no insurance.

Bruno, 29, of Ram Gorse, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 15 April.

He was sentenced to a total of three years in jail for the five charges he admitted. He was also banned from driving for 28 months and six points were placed on his driving licence:

• Possession with intent to supply cocaine – two years and five months’ jail
• Possession with intent to supply cannabis – 20 weeks’ jail, to run concurrently
• Possession of a bladed article – six months’ jail, to run consecutively
• Driving while disqualified – four weeks’ jail, to run consecutively, and disqualified from driving for a further 28 months
• Driving without insurance – licence endorsed with six penalty points

The court made an order for the forfeiture of the cash and the forfeiture and destruction of Bruno’s knife, phone, drugs and drugs paraphernalia.

Investigating officer PC Samuel Chilvers said after the hearing:

“Bruno was clearly up to no good and the amount of drugs our officers located on his person, in his car and at his home indicated that he was dealing.
“We take this sort of behaviour, and the fact that he was carrying a knife, very seriously in Essex, and  I am pleased that our officers have taken another dangerous weapon off our streets so it can do no harm.
“No good ever comes of carrying a knife – quite often it is those who say they carry them for their own protection who end up having their own knives used against them.”