A drug dealer has been jailed for a year after more than nine kilograms of cannabis was found at his address.
Luke Spencer, 42, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday (19 August) for sentencing, having been arrested on 31 March 2021 on suspicion of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
The court heard how officers saw another man leaving an address in Harding Street, Swindon, and driving off in a vehicle that had previously been identified as stolen.
He was arrested and found to be in possession of a box of cannabis that he had collected from the Harding Street address. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B with intent to supply, theft of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence or insurance.
Spencer was located during a subsequent search of the Harding Street address, where more than 9kgs of herbal cannabis in different stages of preparation was found with an estimated street value of £51,600.
The court accepted that Spencer played a significant role in the wholesale supply of Class B cannabis – with an examination of messages on his mobile phone being consistent with the wholesale supply of controlled drugs.
Through proceeds of crime, £17,000 worth of high-value clothing, watches, artwork and cosmetics were seized – along with further unexplained cash transactions.
PC Chris Hemns said: “We welcome this sentence which reflects the seriousness of Spencer’s offences. Drug dealing on this scale can have a huge impact on the community in terms of fuelling further criminality and the adverse effects it can have on vulnerable individuals. This large quantity of drugs was almost certainly destined to be sold on the streets of Swindon.
“By taking these drugs out of circulation, we hope to have disrupted that cycle of offending that leads to misery for so many as well as sending out a clear message that we are determined to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“This represents another great result from Wiltshire Police’s Fortitude team, specifically set up to proactively target the most prolific offenders in our communities.”
