21 years in jail for Swindon drug dealers snared in undercover police sting

It was the culmination of hundreds of hours of work for Wiltshire Police’s drugs squad. The five-month operation – codenamed Jetway – saw at least four undercover officers take to the town’s streets posing as addicts. More than 60 people were caught in the honeytrap.

Det Insp Paul Franklin, who runs the force’s dedicated crime team, said he had been shocked by the brazenness of the criminals dealing heroin and crack cocaine in full view of families in Swindon parks. One of the undercover officers, known to the courts only as Steve, said the town had the most open drug market he had ever seen.

In a busy day for Swindon Crown Court, six men were jailed for supplying class A drugs.

They included 19-year-old Saeedul Ali, the son of a town centre taxi driver, who was put away for three years and 10 months for running the “Sunny” drugs line. The teen already had a conviction for possession with intent to supply, having been caught dealing for the Santana County Line as a boy.

Saeedul Ali Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

Another, Jamie Bowers, 21, said he handed over wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in July last year as a favour to a friend. The brain damaged youngster had previously been targeted by gangsters when he was an inmate at Aylesbury young offenders’ institution. The gang had stolen his address book to learn his mother’s address. Bowers, who had already been recalled to prison on licence for a 2017 GBH, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Kyle Parmenter, 22, was caught selling drugs to undercover cop “Steve” on the one – and only – day he dealt. The Pinehurst man had turned to the illegal trade as a way of making some money and working off a cannabis debt owed to dealers. He was hailed for three years.

Business student Muhamadu Embalo, 21, had been sent to Swindon by London gangsters after his cousin clocked up a debt to the criminals. He was sent by train or driven to Wiltshire and kept supplied with drugs by runners. The African-born Portuguese national, who now faces deportation after he lost his papers, was jailed for three years five months.

The Swindon judges who jailed the men tore into their trade.

Judge Jason Taylor QC told the men who came before him: “Drug dealing is a pernicious trade which wrecks lives and families and anyone involved even as a runner contributes to the carnage that drugs leave behind in their wake." Judge Peter Crabtree struck a similar chord: “Anyone involved in dealing class A drugs is involved in criminality that wrecks lives and destroys the fabric of society or undermines it at least.”

Blood on the steps of Swindon Crown Court

Family members and friends packed the public galleries of both courts and it was standing room only in the waiting area before proceedings got underway at 10am.

The tension erupted into violence early in the day when Ryan Wheeler, who later admitted selling crack cocaine, was punched in the face at around 10.30am – soaking the front step of the court in blood. A spokeswoman for Wiltshire Police said two men had fled the scene. An 18-year-old Toothill man has been charged with possession of a bladed article.

The defendants - listed

More than a dozen were before the courts. They included:

:: Kyle Parmenter, 22, of Willows Avenue, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Steve” on August 27, jailed for three years.

:: Jamie Bowers, 21, of HMP Bullingdon, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” in the John Street car park on July 11. Jailed for four years.

:: Jamie Webber, 21, of Beech Avenue, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on August 29. Jailed for two and a half years.

:: Muhamadu Embalo, 21, of Alton Goldhay, near Peterborough, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, being concerned in supplying heroin and crack to “Yasmin”, supplying heroin and crack to “Yasmin” on September 4. Jailed for three years and five months.

:: Keithlyn Fleming, 23, of Shrivenham Road, Swindon, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Steve” on August 21. Jailed for 17 months. That was consecutive to a 37 month sentence at Aylesbury Crown Court for similar matters.

:: Saeedul Ali, 19, of Beckhampton Street, pleaded guilty to supplying crack cocaine to “Amy” on May 14, supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Yasmin” on August 20 and supplying crack cocaine and heroin to “Yasmin” on August 21. Sentenced to three years and 10 months.

:: Ryan Wheeler, 18, of Norcliffe Road, Park South, admitted supplying crack cocaine to “Rob” on June 20. Adjourned to January 30 for pre-sentence report.

:: Amanda Price, 44, of Inglesham Road, Penhill, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying heroin and crack on September 19. Adjourned to February 17 for a pre-sentence report.

:: Terry Horwat, 32, care of Franklin Acre, Marlborough, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying heroin to “Steve” on June 16 and two counts of supplying crack cocaine to “Steve” on June 19. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

:: Kameran Muhid, 18, of Russ Avenue, Faringdon, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying “Steve” with heroin and crack on May 8. Adjourned to January 30 for a pre-sentence report.

:: Aaron Rodrigues, 21, of Station Road, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on September 17 and heroin and crack cocaine to “Yasmin” on September 19. Given an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years, must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

:: Lee Willett, 36, formerly of Buttermere, Liden, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying heroin and crack cocaine to “Steve” on August 14. Case adjourned to January 24 for sentence.

:: Limara Crewe, 34, of no fixed address, accused of supplying heroin and crack cocaine on April 25. Adjourned to next Friday for plea.