Nuneaton cocaine dealer jailed
The 33 year-old has been sentenced to 26 months behind bars
A man from Nuneaton's been jailed for dealing cocaine.
At around 1:45am on Friday 29 December 2023, officers were called to a report of a suspected break-in in progress on Dunlow Close in Nuneaton.
On arrival, a muddy footprint was discovered halfway up the door and officers found that the rear patio door had been smashed.
After entering the property to check that the occupants were safe and well, officers discovered a large amount of cocaine and cash on a computer desk.
Approximately 190g of cocaine were recovered from the address in total, as well as £5,279 cash.
A search also turned up cannabis, digital scales, a mobile phone, and a red tin filled with drug paraphernalia.
Ashley Thorpe, the resident aged 33, returned to find the police at his home and was subsequently arrested with £1,165 on his person and another mobile phone.
Both mobile phones later showed evidence of drug supply, including a ‘tick list’ of money owed to him on his personal phone, which was linked to the names on messages sent from the other device.
When asked about the drugs, he said “I’ll tell you straight”. Thorpe claimed he planned on selling drugs until a debt was paid, and then making a little bit on top as well before calling it quits.
However, Thorpe denied ownership of the drugs, saying only that he was “in possession” of them, but that they belonged to someone else.
He claimed the £1,165 in his pocket was all from Christmas presents that he had been out collecting before he arrived, and nothing to do with selling cocaine.
Ashley Thorpe has been sentenced to imprisonment for 26 months, having been found guilty of possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of criminal property (namely, £6,444.10 of proceeds from drug sales), and possession of cannabis.
He was sentenced in Coventry Crown Court on 26 January 2024.
Investigating officer DC Lydster said “Ashley Thorpe was selling drugs. He admits to it himself; he had the scales, he had the money, he had a list of customers.
“Despite owning up to selling the drugs, there’s a distinct sense that Thorpe didn’t quite take responsibility for his actions – poisoning the community, enabling organised crime, and inflicting the same type of debt that he claimed had trapped himself.
“Hopefully 26 months in prison is enough time for Thorpe to properly consider cause and effect.”