Braintree drug dealer, who lived luxurious life, jailed
The 31 year-old's been sent to prison for five and a half years
A drug dealer who lived a luxurious lifestyle and rented high value vehicles, which he used as part of his operation, has been jailed - after being cornered by police having driven into a cul-de-sac.
Dylan Martin was running the ‘Doctor’ drug line which was supplying drugs into Braintree town and the surrounding area.
He was arrested in Braintree during a planned operation, which uncovered thousands of pounds in cash, a vicious weapon and the drugs line phone.
The investigation into the 31-year-old began after officers were able to link him, as the drugs line holder, to a black Mercedes hire vehicle which was going into Braintree to deal drugs.
As part of the investigation into this hire vehicle, and others, they discovered Martin was the holder of the rental policies.
As a result of that, officers were able to show compelling evidence that the phone line movement was in line with the movement of the known vehicles, showing regular journeys from London to Braintree.
Martin, a known member of a gang based in London, has a history of violent offences, including aggravated burglary, battery, possession of imitation firearms and drug supply.
Further work on Martin also uncovered links to properties in Braintree, which appeared to be used as a base for drug supply in the area. As a result of Operation Grip – an ongoing police operation dedicated to tackling and reducing serious violence in the area – police were able to establish for certain where the properties were.
As part of a planned operation on 9 May, officers from Operation Raptor teams were positioned in key areas to intercept Martin’s vehicle and arrest him.
That operation took place in a residential area close to the town centre. During the operation, Martin attempted to drive off but because of the position of units, he had no choice but to drive into a cul-de-sac, where he was then arrested.
He was found with a large quantity of cash and was in possession of the Doctor line phone. He had made the trip from London to Braintree, in order to collect money made by the line.
Once he was arrested, warrants were executed in Braintree and at Martin’s home in Stratford, where thousands of pounds in cash and a telescopic baton were located.
When questioned on his role in drug supply, he remained silent and after consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged with being concerned in the supply of Crack Cocaine and Heroin, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of criminal property.
He admitted those charges at Chelmsford Crown Court in June and appeared at the same court on Friday 19 July to be sentenced.
His Honour Judge Wilkin sentenced him to five-and-a-half years in jail, having taken into account Martin’s significant role in drug supply and his early guilty plea.
Police say they will also pursue Martin through the proceeds of crime act and seek to claw back his ill-gotten gains, to be used to fund charitable organisations across Essex.
Acting Detective Inspector Jonathan Stephenson, of our Op Raptor north team, said: “The case which was built against Martin – which was fed into by a number of teams in our serious violence unit – was so strong that he had no realistic alternative but to admit his guilt.
“His role in the supply of drugs was significant. Despite his previous convictions, he clearly continued to believe he was above the law and oversaw a drugs line which was active in Braintree and its surrounding areas.
“Unfortunately for him, he’s not above the law and the evidence against him was overwhelming. The harm which drug supply causes cannot be underestimated whether that is in our urban areas or in our more rural areas. We tackle both in exactly the same way; by building strong cases against the people behind these toxic groups.”
Chief Inspector Martin Richards, Braintree district commander, added: “Our district is undoubtedly a safer place with this drug line dismantled and its owner in jail. Martin believed he could target our community but he was wrong.
“We have teams and resources, both here in our district and across the force, who specialise in targeting people like Martin and bringing them to justice.
“But the overwhelmingly strong cases being built can only be done with the support of our residents, who report suspicious activity to us.
“Even if an immediate response to your report isn’t apparent, there is always work going on behind the scenes and these reports help us hugely in building up a picture of where issues are arising.”