One of Norfolk’s ‘most wanted’ is behind bars as part of drug dealing crackdown

Nathaniel Douglas, 20, was one of scores of people arrested as part of Norfolk Police's Operation Granary, which is targeting county lines networks dealing heroin and crack cocaine. He was caught supplying crack cocaine, in the city to an undercover officer known as Tommo on January 15, this year, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said Douglas was observed supplying the £25 wrap of crack cocaine to the undercover officer but evaded arrest and was circulated by Norfolk police as wanted.

He said that Douglas was eventually traced living in London and arrested and brought to Norwich for questioning, where at first he denied he had supplied any drugs to Tommo but eventually changed his plea to guilty.

Douglas, of Surrey, who was featured on the force's most wanted list, admitted supplying crack cocaine to the undercover officer known as Tommo on January 15, this year

Michael McAlinden, for Douglas, said that he had agreed to supply the drugs on the one occasion to help out his vulnerable friend, who was under pressure to deal drugs.

'He was doing this, so his friend did not have to do it.

He added: 'He put himself in a serious position.'

He said that he had played a lesser role supplying the drugs on just one occasion to the undercover officer.

Mr McAlinden said that Douglas was only 19 at the time of the offence and said that he appears as immature: 'He is a vulnerable young man.'

Sentencing him to two years in a young offenders institution, Judge Anthony Bate said that he was now the 32nd defendant he has sentenced since August 9.

He said that he accepted that Douglas was still a young man and lightly convicted and said it was now up to him if he accepted help being offered to him while in custody. Twenty-six adults and six young defendants arrested under Operation Granary have been sentenced by Judge Bate. The oldest defendant has been 57 and the youngest 16.