A FORMER traffic warden has been jailed for drug dealing.

Craig Shurmur, 30, was working as a traffic warden in Redbridge when he was filmed supplying cannabis to an undercover reporter from a national newspaper.

Shurmur, of Wellington Drive, Dagenham, was sentenced on Monday at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He admitted supplying cannabis and two counts of misconduct in a public office and was jailed for 36 weeks.

A council spokeswoman said: "The individuals concerned were not directly employed by the council but by our parking enforcement contractor, APCOA.

"Through its contract with the London Borough of Redbridge, APCOA is wholly responsible for undertaking employment and reference checks for all those carrying out enforcement duties.

"It is unfortunate that more adequate background checks were not carried out by APCOA at the time.

"Redbridge is satisfied with the speed of response from the contractor as soon as they were aware of the incident.

"The staff were suspended immediately, an investigation launched and immediate dismissals issued on completion of their investigations. The contractor has also initiated CRB checks for all new and existing staff."