Lee Welsford, a 37-year-old man from Whittlesey, has been jailed for dealing cocaine in the area.

Welsford was caught by Cambridgeshire Police officers on New Road, Whittlesey, on December 5, 2023.

Officers saw a car pull up alongside a known drug user on the street, and suspected that a drug deal was about to take place.

They stopped the car and detained the occupants, Welsford and a woman in her 40s, for a stop-search.

In the car, they found ziplock bags containing more than £1,600 worth of cocaine hidden under the gearstick and handbrake covering, as well as empty ziplock bags in the driver's door pocket.

Welsford was arrested on New Road and police carried out a search of his home in Hunsbury Close, where they found a bag containing £1,770 in cash.

Analysis of Welsford's phone revealed messages that confirmed he was a drug dealer supplying cocaine.

He appeared at Cambridge Crown Court today (Thursday) where he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property – namely cash.

He denied a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine which will lie on file.

His sentence also includes the activation of a previously suspended jail term issued in November 2022 after being convicted of being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property (cash) and possession with intent to supply cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and etizolam.

Detective Constable Thomas Adams, who investigated, said: “Despite being given a second chance after his previous conviction, Welsford hasn’t learnt his lesson and was caught with a significant amount of class A drugs and cash again.

“Tackling drug dealing is a priority for the force, we are relentless and will do all we can to catch and disrupt those who choose to be involved in this type of crime.”

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