A suspected drug dealer who was detained in custody for 47 days without pooing has been released from custody and taken to hospital for treatment.

Lamarr Chambers, 24, of Villa Road, Brixton, London was arrested on Wednesday, January 17 after the car he was in was stopped in Parsonage Leys, Harlow and appeared before a court a day later after police suspected he had swallowed drugs.

At that hearing, and in several other hearings, the court authorised the detention of Mr Chambers to enable him to pass the drugs police thought were inside him.

But after 47 days in custody, Mr Chambers had still not emptied his bowels.

Essex Police confirmed that during his time in custody he was routinely supplied with food and water and received medical visits every day.

Mr Chambers had been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and driving matters, but the charges have now been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

(Image: @OpRaptorWest)

He was subsequently rearrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug and was released on bail.

Since his release from custody, he has been taken to hospital for treatement.

Deputy Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: "Police forces have a legal and ethical responsibility for the welfare of anyone brought in to police custody. Although an investigation concerning the supply of Class A drugs is routine for our officers, there have in this case been some highly unusual circumstances which have attracted national attention.

“On the basis of all the medical evidence in this case it is most appropriate, both in the interests of Mr Chambers and of justice, to ensure he receives the hospital treatment he needs.

“Where detainees are suspected of ingesting or concealing drugs inside their body, we must balance overseeing their welfare and ensuring that all evidence is captured to ensure the best possible chance of prosecution.

“In some cases this will involve seeking the continued detention of a suspect, as authorised by the courts, to ensure that drugs are passed, retained and tested. That evidence will then form the basis of subsequent charging decisions and court proceedings.

“Essex Police’s Operation Raptor teams spend every day proactively hunting those involved in the supply and sale of drugs on our streets. It is a crime that we are not prepared to tolerate in this county and we will go to every length to capture and prosecute those responsible.

“We will also not shy away from talking about the unpleasant truths that go hand in hand with the drug dealing lifestyle, from the violence often perpetrated by those involved to the expectation on dealers to ‘plug’ drugs to avoid capture."