Serial offender jailed for dealing cocaine and cannabis

A drug dealer who hid his stash of cocaine in a Kinder Surprise egg container has been jailed, as our fight against serious and organised crime continues.

Mark Groombridge, 38, from Uttoxeter, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years at Stafford Crown Court on Monday (20 May) after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug (cocaine), being concerned in the supply of a class B drug (cannabis) and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

Groombridge was driving a grey Peugeot van on High Street, Uttoxeter, in November 2022 when officers from our major and organised crime proactive teams stopped-and-searched him. They found a mobile phone and £705 cash.

He was taken to custody where a Kinder Surprise egg container with deals of cocaine inside was recovered. He also provided a positive drug swipe and was arrested.

When we later searched an address in Uttoxeter a further £390 cash, cocaine and drugs paraphernalia were seized. Groombridge was released under investigation.

Then, after arresting Groombridge for a separate offence in October last year, proactive officers searched a vehicle and an address. They found and seized knives, cocaine, cannabis and unused snap bags.

Detective Sergeant Jon Bradbury, said: “Groombridge is a serial offender so to see him behind bars is of great satisfaction. We will continue to proactively target those involved to protect our most vulnerable and disrupt drug supply in our communities. We want to make it clear that drugs are not welcome in Staffordshire.”

The activity follows our ongoing commitment to proactively target serious and organised crime across Staffordshire.

We launched Operation Target last year and have been working with local police forces to disrupt and pursue criminals who plan, organise and commit serious criminal offences across the county, including drug supply, illegal firearms, knife crime, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

To read more about the work we’ve been doing, visit: https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/news/staffordshire/news/2023/may/major-operation-to-target-serious-organised-crime-launched/