Three men and a youth who were involved in drug dealing in Ipswich have been given custodial sentences totalling more than ten years.
Police officers launched an operation in the town earlier this year to target hotspots where drug dealing was taking place, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said that during the operation undercover police officers contacted two telephone “hotlines” and arranged to purchase Class A drugs.
Drugs were purchased at a number of locations around Ipswich including Burrell Road, Samuel Court, Crescent Road, Cardinal Park, Hadleigh Road, Gippeswyk Park and Alexandra Park.
Sentencing six people who were arrested during the operation Judge Martyn Levett said the drug dealing “hotlines” had been operated “24/7 365 days a year” and described the operation as a “well oiled machine”.
Before Ipswich Crown Court were: Christopher Hubert, 25, of Hartley Street, Ipswich, who admitted five offences of supplying heroin and was jailed for three years; Trayvond Rankin, 20, of no fixed address, who admitted two offences of supplying Class A drugs, including crack cocaine, and was sentenced to 31 months’ detention in a young offenders’ institution; Marcelino Vieira, 34, of no fixed address, who admitted supplying crack cocaine and was given a 21 month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement; Kerry Samain, 38, of Grebe Close, Ipswich, who admitted one offence of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was given a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years and a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement; a 16-year-old boy, from Ipswich, who cannot be named due to his age, who admitted supplying heroin and cocaine and was sentenced to a 12 month detention and training order; Kasparas Sadauskas, 18, of St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, who admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to four years’ detention in a young offenders’ institution.
Also before the court were Michael Walsh, 23, of no fixed address who admitted four offences of supplying heroin, supplying cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin and Gregory Branaghan, 42, of Fonnereau Road, Ipswich, who admitted four offences of supplying Class A drugs. Their sentencing hearings were adjourned until Monday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here