The Nightingales estate drugs kingpin Callum Brown living in fear of fellow prison inmates, court told

A drug dealer at the centre of estate gang warfare is reportedly living in fear of other criminals in prison.

Callum Brown ran a ‘county lines’ operation and was busted with a quarter kilo of cocaine, doses of LSD, high potency cannabis and around £40,000 in drugs money.

His dealing had been linked to extreme violence on The Nightingales estate in Greenham, which has since spilled over into prison, Reading Crown Court heard on Friday, February 28.

Andrew Jordan, prosecuting, said that, when arrested, Brown feigned illness so officers removed his handcuffs – then lunged at a packet of drugs and tried to scatter them.

The 22-year-old, who had been living at Maidas Way, Aldermaston, and staying at a Newbury hotel, was caught with phones which showed messages stating he was now “active”, and boasting that “all-day drops can be arranged, just ask for deals”.

The ‘menu’ included “flake” – high quality cocaine – and “rocket fuel, cotton candy and pollen” – potent cannabis strains.

The drugs had a street value of tens of thousands of pounds, the court heard.

Brown was also caught with £40,000 in cash and his BMW was parked outside.

He answered “no comment” to questions during a police interview.

Mr Jordan prosecuting, said Brown had initially denied the offences, offering a defence of “modern day slavery” – but changed his pleas to guilty on the day of trial.

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

Brown has 15 previous convictions for offences including possessing a machete, possessing a knife, making threats to kill, drug dealing, drug possession, assault, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Stuart Dingle, defending, said Brown had been the victim of a savage, baseball bat beating on The Nightingales estate in Greenham, and still suffered seizures and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result.

He added that, due to his co-operation with police in bringing his attackers to justice, his client had been targeted in HMP Bullingdon.

An attempt had been made on his life, the court heard.

Mr Dingle went on: “Those convicted [of the attack on Brown] were present [in prison]; gained access to him and caused him significant difficulties in prison – he had given evidence at trial.”

Brown has since been moved to another prison.

Mr Dingle said Brown was “still a young man” who had sought to better himself while on remand in prison and added: “When released his family will move him away from those who wish to drag him back into criminality.”

Judge Rachel Drake told Brown: “You offered a whole spectrum of drugs as a street dealer.”

She pointed out that the offences had been committed days after he was made subject to a suspended sentence for previous offending.

Judge Drake added: “You were responsible for running this drug line.”

Brown was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment.

He will serve half of that behind bars, minus the time he has spent on remand, and the remainder on licence in the community.