Chiswick Man Jailed for Role in Student Drug Marketplace
WhatsApp used to distribute large quantity of class A drugs
Police discovered 2,000 messages on WhatApp group
A man from Chiswick has been jailed for three years for his role in an illegal drugs marketplace distributing to students at Bristol and Bath Universities.
26-year-old Jonathan Burke of Mayfield Avenue was one of nine offenders sentenced at Bristol Crown Court this week for his role in an operation that used WhatsApp to take orders.
The convictions market the end of a three year operation which starting in November 2017 when police intercepted a parcel containing a large quantity of class A drugs addressed to a resident of student accommodation in Bath.
On searching the address drugs paraphernalia was found and the examination of a smartphone led to the discovery of a WhatsApp group containing nearly two thousand messages most of which related to the supply of drugs.
In the resulting investigation 26 people were interviewed with ten people ultimately being charged, one of whom was found not guilty.
Burke received the second longest sentence of those convicted,
Investigating officer PC Patrick Gormley said, “These individuals had a life of opportunity ahead of them and instead chose to squander their university education by engaging in drug criminality and putting others’ lives at risk.
“The fact that several of the offenders received custodial sentences sends a clear message that, regardless of social standing or previous good character, serious drug crime will not be tolerated within any community.”
Richard Posner, Senior Crown Advocate of the CPS South West added, “What is clear from this police investigation is that the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp as a managed market place to buy and sell drugs has become a depressing reality for a small but significant element of an otherwise hard working and aspirational student population.
“The sellers collaborated with each other to sell drugs and referrals were common. Advertising, incentives, raffles and loyalty rewards were used to boost sales.”
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February 14, 2021