Drug dealer jailed

A drug dealer who used rural locations in Stoke-on-Trent to hide his drugs in to avoid detection has been jailed.

Peter Rogers, aged 37, of Stoke-on-Trent, was handed a six-year and three-month jail term at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday (31 January) after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, handling stolen goods and possession of criminal property.

The court heard how Rogers was on licence following a drug-related conviction in 2019 when he was investigated again.

He would visit the locations on a number of occasions to stash the drugs. Rogers also stashed drugs in a stolen vehicle on cloned plates and his own vehicle, which he kept parked away from his home.

Once we had gathered enough evidence, we seized the drugs and worked with traffic officers from Cheshire to target Rogers who had fled to a caravan in Wales. He was stopped on 31 October last year, while travelling north on the M6, attempting to get to Arye in Scotland, with a new passport and around £10,000 in cash. Officers believe he would have fled abroad if he had not been detained. 

A quantity of cocaine and amphetamines was also recovered from other locations.

Rogers was charged and later admitted the offences in court.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing is due to take place in April this year.

Chief Superintendent, Nicki Addison, said: “I am pleased Rogers admitted his guilt and has been handed a custodial sentence for his offending which had a significant impact on the supply of drugs across the county.

“We continue to do all we can to tackle those causing harm in our communities including disrupting criminal gangs and seizing their unlawful property.”