Man jailed after officers' visit reveals drug supply offences

A man has been jailed after local officers carrying out a visit discovered a haul illegal substances at a property in Stafford.

Malcolm David Arnold, aged 52, of Highfields, was jailed for one year at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Thursday (16 April) after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of class A drugs, cocaine and magic mushrooms; possession of class B drugs, monkey dust; supply of class B drugs, monkey dust; and possession of class C drugs, tramadol and pregabalin.

It comes as officers at Stafford borough local policing team (LPT) carried out a visit on an unrelated matter at a property off Barnes Road earlier this month.

Cocaine was found on the bedside table while further drugs, including more than 120 tablets, paraphernalia and two mobile phones containing drug-related messages, were found following a search.

Arnold pleaded guilty to the offences in court and was handed a jail term after being found in possession of the substances while already being subject to a suspended sentence for similar offences last month.

Alongside his period of imprisonment, the drugs were ordered to be forfeited for destruction and Arnold was ordered to pay a surcharge of £154.

Speaking following sentencing, PC Nathan Hancock, from Stafford Borough LPT, who was the officer in the case, said: “When Arnold invited us into his property, there were drugs clearly in the premises that we were able to see and seize.

“I am pleased he admitted his offending in court and was handed a jail term for his clear involvement in drug supply in Stafford.”

Sergeant Ewan Lunn, who supervised the case, added: “We are determined to disrupt the supply of illegal substances in Stafford and will continue to work with partners to protect our communities from harm.”

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