West Berkshire drug dealer jailed for eight years

Calcot man Lincoln Crooks sentenced after being found with cocaine of street value up to £800,000

A CALCOT man has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine with a street value of up to £800,000.

Lincoln Crooks, aged 54, of Cambrian Way, Calcot, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court yesterday (Thursday).

On Sunday, July 10, officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) intercepted a Parcel Force package addressed to a property in Tilehurst.

The package had originated in California and when examined by UKBA officers it was found to contain a large quantity of cocaine.

Thames Valley Police, in conjunction with UKBA, arrested Mr Crooks for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The drugs were examined and contained 1kg of cocaine with a purity of 82 per cent.

Reduced in purity for street level sale the drugs were valued at £113,000 to £800,000.

Two premises, one in Calcot and one in Tilehurst were searched, where officers uncovered a large body of evidence including further drugs, a large quantity of cash, foreign currency and jewellery.

Crooks denied the offence but was found guilty on Tuesday (10).

Detective constable John Denard, who investigated the incident, said afterwards: “Mr Crooks exuded the impression from the outset that he was above the law and has successfully been proven wrong.

“I hope the sentence handed to Crooks today serves as a warning to others involved in the supply of illegal drugs.”