A jailed county lines drug dealer was working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council prior to his arrest, it has emerged.

Ehsan Shah received a 30-month prison sentence last month after he admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Police identified Shah as the controller of a county lines operation actively selling drugs in the Congleton area.

In addition to drug dealing, the 34-year-old, of John Rhodes Way, Tunstall, had been working as a market manager at the city council since at least 2019.

He left his job at the authority following his arrest in May.

An Instagram post by Stoke-on-Trent Markets in 2019 introduced Shah as the second relief market manager, describing him as 'definitely the joker in the team', and saying that he 'loves cars'.

Ehsan Shah of John Rhodes Way, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent (Credit: Cheshire Police)

When officers executed a warrant at Shah's home address, they seized two Mercedes vehicles along with a significant amount of cash and other luxury items.

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In 2023, Shah spoke to The Sentinel after Tunstall Market was named the best in North Staffordshire, saying the traders there were 'really nice'.

A spokesperson for the city council said: "I can confirm that Ehsan Shah was an employee of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Following his arrest this year, Mr Shah resigned his position and has not worked for the council since."

Following the court case, Detective Constable Rob Wolstenholme said Shah had targeted Congleton thinking it would be 'an easy place to deal drugs', but did not realise the police were 'hot on his trail'.