Coventry & Exhall drug dealers are jailed after being caught by police through text messages
TWO crack cocaine dealers have been jailed after they were nailed for their network in Bedworth through text messages.
Police staged a number of raids across the town and also in Coventry back in March of this year.
As a result, Dominic Allsopp and Thomas Green-wardale were identified as being involved in the production and supply of crack cocaine in the area through their use of bulk text messages. They were received by a third member of the group, Lesedi Bopape, aged 21, of no fixed abode.
Bulk texts were frequently being sent from what was a burner phone with a SIM connected to 20-year-old Greenwardale indicating the availability of new stock - with the message “Fire yay there”.
Previous investigations had shown that the group were using the home addresses of vulnerable drug users in Bedworth to prepare the crack cocaine.
Allsopp, aged 22, was found to have been in regular contact with Greenwardale on a series of so-called burner phones, in which he identified himself as “Dom”. Such phones are used by dealers and then discarded to make detection by police more difficult.
Both Allsopp and Green-wardale were arrested on March 2 at their respective addresses. Allsopp’s property was searched, with police finding a small bag of white powder which tested positive for cocaine; cannabis; over £250 in cash and a small, green-handled axe.
Various blades were also found at Green-wardle’s home including a lock knife, an axe, and a Kirpan - a long knife traditionally carried by members of the Sikh faith. He does not identify as a Sikh.
Bopape was arrested in Exhall, following a search of a house he was seen leaving in Bedworth. In court, Bopape was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply; and offering to supply crack cocaine.
Allsopp, of Dorset Road, Coventry was jailed for 28 months after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and Green-wardale, aged 21, of Coventry Road, Bedworth was given a suspended 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Detective Constable Dan Lydster said “These convictions are one more positive step in our ongoing efforts to drive organised drug dealing operations out of Bedworth. These individuals have a substantial impact on their community - both through the supplier of harmful and highly addictive substances, and their involvement in the exploitation of vulnerable persons for their own profit.”
News about the sentencing comes as Warwickshire Police force launches Operation Target, a campaign to tackle serious and organised crime across the West Midlands region. It sees Warwickshire Police working closely with other local police forces and the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).
Detective Superintendent Sutherland Lane, head of specialist and proactive operations, said: “Serious and organised crime is a very real threat to communities in Warwickshire. These gangs work across borders and show no regard for the damage and harm they cause. Warwickshire Police now has more officers than ever before and tackling serious and organised crime is one of the top priorities for the force. With increased numbers of officers, I fully expect significant success in bringing offenders to justice and disrupting their activity.”