Drug dealing chip shop owner jailed for seven years as police seize expensive cars and £19,000 speedboat

Kenneth Hunter, 41, and his "trusted lieutenant" William Trott, 39, were snared after they were identified as central figures in a plot to bring drugs to the streets of the North East.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how the pair were involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine in "significant quantities" between October 2018 and May 2019.

Prosecuting, Nick Lane, said: "The Crown's case is that the co-accused Mr Trott was the trusted lieutenant of Mr Hunter - essentially a delivery driver who was at the beck and call of Mr Hunter and he would do much of Mr Hunter's running around and delivering.

"Mr Hunter very deliberately kept himself out of the picture. Mr Hunter was seen on a significant number of occasions observing the co-accused Mr Trott in delivering and collecting money."

But unaware they were under surveillance by police the pair unwittingly led detectives right their doors.

When disqualified driver Trott hopped in his car officers pounced and arrested him in the Shiney Row area.

The arrest triggered a search of his home where a haul of two kilos of cocaine and 12 kilos of amphetamine were discovered along with other items of drug paraphernalia.

Following recovery of the drugs, Hunter, 41, was arrested as he returned home.

A search of his house led officers to a receipt for a £19,500 speedboat which was then subsequently tracked down and seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act along with a range of other vehicles.

The court was told that Hunter had been released from prison in March 2017 for an unrelated offence, and since then had acquired £133,100 worth of businesses, cars and motor bikes.

Mr Lane listed the vehicles and their worth, explaining some had been bought on pay monthly contracts. Included, was a Quicksliver speedboat worth £19,500.

He added: "Furthermore, Mr Hunter bought a business called Cod Loves a Fryer."

He told the court the business was worth £33,000.

The pair previously appeared at Newcastle Crown Court in October where they pleaded guilty to drugs offences.

And today Hunter, of St Paul's Drive in Houghton, who had admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs, was back before the court where he was jailed for seven years.

The court heard how he had a string of other drugs convictions.

Trott, of Hedworth Terrace in Shiney Row, who previously admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs will be sentenced on May 26.

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Amber Renton said: "Our officers work incredibly hard to make sure our communities are safe and to prevent harmful substances being sold on our streets.

"We know that people's lives can be destroyed from drug use and it is our duty to pursue those offenders who have a role in supplying, distributing and dealing these awful substances.

"As part of Operation Sentinel, our joined up approach to tackling serious and organised crime, we will continue to carry out strike action, searches and seizing items to disrupt and prevent offenders continuing their illicit activities.

"I'm pleased with today's sentencing and hope it serves as a warning to anyone involved in this kind of criminality. We will pursue you and bring you before the courts and thanks to the Proceeds of Crime Act, we will strip you of your assets and anything of value your life of crime has afforded you."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.