Man sentenced to three years for drugs offences

A man who was caught with bags of cocaine, cash and a burner phone has been jailed.

Simon Middleton of Ryhall Road in Stamford was sentenced to three years for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A and supplying a controlled drug.

The 45-year-old appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 13 September.

Response officers were patrolling Broad Street, Stamford during the early hours of Saturday 10 September 2022 when they spotted Middleton who was wanted for assault at the time.

Officers later searched Middleton and found clear bags of cocaine weighing just over five grams, a small burner phone and £1,060 in cash. All items were seized, and Middleton was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property and possession with intent to supply.  

Middleton was later charged with supply of a controlled Class A drug and possession with intent to supply and was remanded.

Detective Constable Stewart Humm, who initially dealt with the investigation, said: “Middleton was a well-known local drug dealer in the area and evidence on his burner phone showed this. It was clear that he was dealing drugs during the nighttime economy hours and could not account for the large quantity of cash that was obviously obtained through his dealing activity through the night, along with the quantity of cocaine in his possession.

“We are committed to tackling drug dealing offences in Lincolnshire and we will prosecute local dealers that cause harm to our community and vulnerable people that consumer dangerous drugs.”

The Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership (LRP) is a free service that offers support for Lincolnshire residents around drug and alcohol use. Find out more by visiting their website https://haylincolnshire.co.uk/support/lincolnshire-recovery-partnership-drug-alcohol-services/.