A Felixstowe man will be sentenced for drug dealing early next year. 

Mark Church, 45 and of Brightwell Close in the town, is expected to be sentenced alongside Christopher Fenner, 37 and of Brunswick Road in Ipswich, at Ipswich Crown Court in January next year. 

The pair were accused of operating the so-called ‘J’ line, which supplied heroin and crack cocaine to local drug users, between December 12, 2021, and March 11, 2022.  

Fenner was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and possessing £2,000 in cash as criminal property in July. 

Following discussion between the defence and prosecution, Church has now pleaded guilty to the charges of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. 

He appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for a hearing on Tuesday, November 21. 

Both the defence and prosecution agreed that Fenner and Church both held “significant” roles in the operation, but that Church was subordinate to Fenner. 

Prosecutor Matthew Bagnall told the court that Church had provided assistance to Fenner, and was at times the “holder” of the drug line. He said Church was also “instrumental” in providing the names of Class A users to the line, effectively a “customs list”. 

Both Fenner and Church are expected to be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on January 12 next year. 

Church is on conditional bail, and subject to an electronic curfew.