Drug dealers 'will not be tolerated'

TEN year jail sentences given to two Suffolk drug dealers have today been welcomed by police as a message that drugs will not be tolerated.

Stewart Edward and Tony Rowlands were jailed at Ipswich Crown Court after a jury found them guilty of conspiring to supply ecstasy tablets between August 31 and September 16, 2004. They had denied the charge.

Edward, 27, of Collingwood Fields, East Bergholt, and his brother-in-law Rowlands, 40, of Reading, were found with £51,000-worth of ecstasy tablets.

Police discovered the haul when they raided Edward's home and found him sitting in a wheelchair in his kitchen with Rowlands.

They found a bag on a kitchen work surface with 5,130 ecstasy tablets, while a further 5,060 tablets and £2,830 were also discovered in the house.

When forensic scientists examined a latex glove found in the kitchen they uncovered traces of ecstasy tablets and Edward's DNA. One of his fingerprints was also on the wrapping of the drugs.

Greg Perrins, prosecuting, said the men had been involved with other people to supply a large quantity of ecstasy tablets in Suffolk.

The jury was told that Rowlands had driven to East Bergholt with the tablets on September 16, but he had denied bringing the drugs into the house.

Edward claimed the cash found at his home belonged to him, but he denied that the tablets belonged to him or that he dealt in drugs.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Louisa Pepper, of Suffolk police, said: "Tackling drug dealing is a major priority of Suffolk police and we will continue with our campaign working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those committing drug- related offences will be sentenced accordingly.

"The sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court of Stewart Edward and Tony Rowlands sends out a clear message to those involved in the supply and possession of class A drugs that these offences will not be tolerated."