Yet another London drug dealer targets Newbury

Police wage 'continuing battle' says officer

YET another London dealer in hard drugs has been caught targeting Newbury.

The latest incident was brought before West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 3.

Last October, Newbury officer PC Chris Eaton said Thames Valley Police was facing a continuing battle and added: “These dealers are nasty individuals.

“We have been very successful in catching them, sending them to prison and seizing their cash.

“We will continue to hunt them down – and getting information from the public is vital in helping us rid these vermin from our town.”

But despite the force’s efforts, he said that many drug dealers still see the Newbury area – often branded ‘Brown Town’ after the street slang for smokeable heroin – as “easy pickings” and are recruiting addicts in the area as suppliers.

PC Eaton said at the time: “London drug gangs are sending drug runners to Newbury and Thatcham to take advantage of the local addicts and vulnerable individuals.

“They coerce them with drugs, threats of violence and money to sell Class A drugs.”

One of those caught recently by police was George Heath.

The 19-year-old, who hails from Frimley Close, New Addington, Croydon, South London, admitted possessing the Class A controlled drugs heroin and crack cocaine with intent so supply them.

He also admitted possessing the Class B controlled drug cannabis.

All the offences were committed on August 5 last year on the A4 Bath Road.

Helen Gambrill, prosecuting, said: “Police conducted a ‘stop and search’ of a suspicious vehicle. Drugs were found in the underpants of the driver and then this defendant, a passenger, admitted having drugs on him, asking the officers: ‘Will I go down for this?’”

She said Mr Heath was found to have 11 wraps of crack cocaine and 19 wraps of heroin, plus a quantity of cannabis.

Ms Gambrill added: “This is classed as an offence of street dealing.”

She suggested that the matter was so serious it could only be dealt with by a judge sitting at a Crown Court.

Mr Heath’s counsel made no submissions and District Judge Davinder Lachhar concurred.

The case was sent to Reading Crown Court for sentencing and Mr Heath was meanwhile released on bail.

PC Eaton has asked for the public’s help in combatting the problem of London dealers targeting Newbury and Thatcham.

He said: “If you suspect drug dealing or if you notice addresses or vehicles getting lots of visitors for short periods of time, please call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 .”