Suspended Sentence Drugs supply Class A Crown Court 2023

Suspended Sentence drugs supply class A Canterbury Crown Court –

JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors represented the above client for his proceedings before Canterbury Crown Court. The client was charged with 2 counts of concerned in the supply of class A drugs, 2 modern-day slavery charges, and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.

The client’s arrest resulted from Operation Gurnard, which deals with the exploitation of young individuals for the supply of class A drugs within the home counties. Upon arrest, the client was found with a large quantity of cannabis at his address alongside drug paraphernalia and documents linking him to the drug line and exploitation. The prosecution submitted that the client alongside another had control of a drug line operating in the county of Kent and used teenagers to sell drugs on their behalf. Extensive work was conducted by the British Transport Police and Kent Police Constabulary, which resulted in lengthy phone data and cell site analysis being served by the prosecution.

Upon review of the case, instructing solicitors and counsel advised the client that the amount of evidence present would likely lead to a guilty verdict for the supply of drugs. The client submitted a basis of plea lowering his role within the operation. The basis of plea was accepted by the prosecution and the modern-day slavery charges against the client were dropped.

The client was due to be sentenced as category 3 for playing a significant role. The starting point would have been 4 years 6 months with the possibility of up to 7 years. Instructing solicitors and counsel worked tirelessly to ensure as many supporting documents to assist the client were before the Court alongside a detailed sentencing note. The Honourable Judge sentencing took this into account and sentenced the client to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years for the supply offences and 6 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years for the supply of cannabis.