Drug trafficker starts jail sentence

A DRUG trafficker who brought class A drugs to Suffolk is today starting a prison sentence.

Dean Ridsdale, of Iken, near Woodbridge, hid around £4,000-worth of heroin in the car he was driving while helping Nigel Plant to pick up the drugs from London.

But the pair were rumbled when police were lying in wait for them on their return.

Ipswich Crown Court heard yesterdayhow officers had executed a search warrant on Plant's house in Blaxhall on March 11, but had only found Plant's mother inside.

Shortly after, Plant and Ridsdale arrived at the house and were surprised to see the officers.

Patricia Doggett, prosecuting, said: “Plant was holding a plastic bag. There was a struggle and the bag fell to the floor. Plant said 'that's heroin and that's mine.”

Miss Doggett said the two men had driven to the house in a Nissan Navara, which Ridsdale had borrowed from his stepfather.

Inside, officers found a false compartment under the handbrake containing 77grams of heroin.

Miss Doggett added: “Ridsdale said he had driven Plant to London several times, but on this occasion only he was suspicious it was drug-related, but he never asked Plant about it.”

Plant was earlier sentenced to three years in prison for possessing class A drugs and Ridsdale pleaded guilty to entering into an arrangement to help with the acquisition of class A drugs.

Judge David Goodin said: “The drugs which you were assisting Plant in transporting from London are a significant quantity.

“You have to understand that trafficking class A drugs must be dealt with seriously.”

Ridsdale was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, of which he is due to serve half.

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