Staffordshire drugs den BB guns Cannock sentencing, Digi Mart USA News (Cannock, Staffordshire, England): Police have sentenced a man and a woman after officers raided a house in Cannock as part of an investigation into a class A drugs operation run from the property. The probe was led by Staffordshire Police’s major and organised crime team and culminated in officers forcing their way inside in November last year.
Inside the living room, officers found Gary Bickmore, 61, seated on a sofa with a mobile phone under his leg that was described as “ringing constantly”. He also had a second phone, £540 in cash and a roll of cling film.
On and around a small table in front of him were items commonly used to prepare drugs for sale, including multiple sets of scales and razor blades. Air-powered BB guns with metal ball bearings were found underneath the table.
Lorette Luker, 52, was also in the room and was found in possession of crack cocaine and heroin. Following their arrests, Bickmore was found guilty of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, and of being concerned in the supply of both drugs.
He also admitted four counts of possessing a firearm when prohibited for life and two counts of possessing ammunition for an air weapon when prohibited for life.
Luker was found guilty of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply. Bickmore was jailed for four years and 10 months.
Luker received a two-year, eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.
Chief Superintendent Steve Morrey, of the force’s specialist crime department, said communities should not have to tolerate the harm caused by drug-related crime. He said residents’ concerns had helped shape the investigation and that the force remains committed to tackling drug supply and drug-related anti-social behaviour in the county.
