Nightingales estate drug dealer, Callum Brown, caught with cocaine, LSD and wads of cash

A DRUG dealer caught with quarter kilo of cocaine and doses of LSD has been told to expect a lengthy jail term.

Callum Brown was also busted with around £40,000 in drugs money.

His dealing was linked to extreme violence on The Nightingales estate in Greenham, Reading Crown Court heard on Monday, February 3.

The 22-year-old, who had been living at Maidas Way, Aldermaston, had been due to stand trial for supplying Class A-controlled drugs.

But before a jury could be sworn in, he changed his pleas.

Brown admitted seven charges.

These involved possessing two Class A-controlled drugs – specifically, cocaine and LSD, a powerful psychedelic – with intent to supply them, and the possession of £40,490 in ill-gotten gains.

All the offences were committed in Newbury and Aldermaston between January 28 and June 25, 2024.

Brown has previous convictions for possessing a machete, making threats to kill, drug dealing, assault, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Andrew Jordan, prosecuting, said: “The defendant himself has been the victim of a Section 18 [assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent].

“In a second incident he was pulled from a car and there was an attempted Section 18.

“We can’t say those are completely unrelated to his drug selling.

“The crown doesn’t anticipate there is any basis for a Newton hearing [a mini trial to determine the facts when a defendant has admitted an offence but on the basis of a different version to the prosecution’s].

“He entered into drug dealing because he was a drug user – that’s how he got involved.

“We say his was a significant, but not leading, role [in the dealing operation].”

Stuart Dingle, for Brown, said his client was “under no illusion about what his sentence will be”.

He added: “Mr Brown has been the victim of assaults; the perpetrators have been convicted but this has left him with significant health difficulties.”

Judge Michael Roques said he would adjourn sentencing.

He remarked that Brown had been “getting others involved in dealing”.

Judge Roques concluded: “He has pleaded guilty on a ‘full facts’ basis; there will be no basis of plea.

“Both parties agree he has been the victim of violence at the hands of others but that doesn’t impact on his role in this case.”

He warned Brown to expect “a custodial sentence of some length”.

* A CO-defendant of Brown’s, who had been facing similar drug dealing charges, will not now be prosecuted.

Georgina Blandford, aged 21, of Greenham Road, Newbury, was told that the prosecution planned to offer no evidence against her and that the charges would be withdrawn.