Canvey: Drug dealer jailed and ordered to pay £4,900 to night shelter

A drug dealer has been jailed as part of an operation to target the supply of drugs in Castle Point and Rochford.

In October 2022 Luke Weston was stopped by officers whilst they were on patrol in Third Avenue, Canvey.

After a search was carried out, a bag of white powder thought to be Class A drugs, several bags of cannabis, £1,000 in cash and a mobile phone were seized and he was arrested.

As a result of further investigation, including on the 21-year-old's phone, officers were able to link him to an active drugs line on the island.

Whilst Weston was on conditional bail, a warrant was executed at an address linked to him. During a search of the home, items link to drug supply and £1,400 in cash was seized. Weston was arrested a short time later close by.

When he was searched, officers also found Class A drugs, cannabis and further £1,334 in cash as well as two mobile phones.

He was subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, two counts of possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply and two counts of possessing criminal property.

Weston, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and Class B drugs and possessing criminal property and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on 10 July to a total of 28 months in jail. The other offences will lie on file.

All drugs and paraphernalia seized will be destroyed. The cash seized, a total of £4,905, will be donated to Basildon Emergency Night Shelter.

'We'll continue the fight against illegal substances'

Inspector David Kealy, of Castle Point & Rochford Community Policing Team, said:

“This is a great piece of work from my officers, who continue to work tirelessly in the fight against illegal substances.
“We will not tolerate the possession nor the sale of illegal substances within our community and we will continue to disrupt and prosecute those seeking to do so.”

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