A crack cocaine and heroin dealer snared by undercover cops has been jailed for 20 months.
Last January, plain-clothes officers spotted what appeared to be a drug deal taking place between two men on Mount Parade, Harrogate.
One was found with two wraps of heroin and crack cocaine whilst the other, Christopher Patrick Hollowed, was found with a £20 note in his pocket and both were arrested.
A search of 54-year-old Hallowed’s nearby flat led officers to a third man, Lee Bavin, who had fled from the property and was found hiding and in possession of more than £800 and 19 wraps of heroin.
In interview, Hollowed denied that he had been dealing drugs and claimed that the other man was trying to sell the drugs to him.
Despite his story that he hadn’t even touched the drugs, Hallowed’s DNA was later found on both wraps and he was subsequently charged with supplying crack cocaine and heroin.
Hallowed, of Harrogate, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court and was today (19 March) sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment.
28-year-old Bavin, of Manchester Road, Bradford, was jailed in another sentencing hearing earlier this year for five years and four months after pleading guilty to possessing heroin, crack cocaine and a class C drug (methandienone) with intent to supply. He was found to be linked to a prolific ‘county line’ that was operating between Bradford and Harrogate offering drugs for sale through mass text messaging.
Another man received a drugs referral after admitting to being in possession of class A drugs.
The arrests were carried out by Harrogate’s Operation Expedite Team who are committed to targeting the offenders causing the most harm to our communities – offenders should be warned we will continue focus police resources on patrolling hotspot areas, execute warrants, seize illicit drugs and cash in order to disrupt this type of criminality.
Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Tom Barker of Harrogate’s Operation Expedite Team, said:
Today’s sentence is on the back of the work we’re carrying out day in day out to arrest those involved in this type of criminality..
Drug dealing causes misery in our communities and we hope local people are reassured that we are committed to disrupting it and taking those responsible off the streets.
We urge anyone with information about drug dealing in their area, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to continue to report information to us to help us.
