Drug dealer jailed over 'evil' Norwich drugs supply

Ashley Fenn, 31, was arrested after armed police were called to the Holiday Inn, near Norwich Bus Station as part of a proactive police operation.

Declan Crater, 30, was also arrested during the operation on November 4 last year which saw police attend a business premises on Griffin Lane, Thorpe St Andrew on the same date.

Norwich Crown Court heard Fenn was found to have £660 in cash on him while Crater had two phones which contained "drug dealing messages" linked to both heroin and cocaine.

Danielle O'Donovan, prosecuting, said both defendants were linked to messages on the phones found by police.

She said the drug dealing comprised a "significant period of time".

Fenn, of Knowland Grove, Norwich, and Crater, of Maurader Road, Norwich appeared at court for sentence having both admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine between July and November last year.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating for Fenn, said his client should be given credit for his pleas about the offending.

He said it happened after Fenn split with his partner of "many, many years" and went to live on a boat after leaving the family home and his young children.

Fenn's brother also committed suicide prior to him becoming involved in the offences.

Mr Oliver said the life events had a profound effect on him and had been a "trigger" to this offending, having led to him using drugs which he "simply didn't have the means to fund his own habit".

The barrister said he was in "self-destruct mode" as a result and had got himself into a "very dark hole".

Oliver Haswell, mitigating for Crater, said his client had a "long-standing record of drug use" and had "battled an entrenched addiction to class A drugs".

He said despite this he had never been offered a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR). 

Mr Haswell said, having been remanded in custody, he was the victim of a "horrific assault" as a result of which his hand has been left "mangled".

The barrister said further operations will be needed and he will not ever recover "the full use of that hand".

He said Crater had also suffered "multiple stab wounds" in another attack.

Mr Haswell said his client has "tried to battle his addictions" and at one point went to Spain to try and rid himself of his negative influences and associations.

But on his return he went back to class A drug use and his association in these offences was driven by debt which he had accrued as well as by "desperation and fear".

Mr Haswell said threats had been made to him and his family.

Judge Anthony Bate said both defendants had been involved in the “pernicious and evil trade” of supplying class A drugs to addicts on the streets of Norwich.

He said the supply of drugs "bring much misery and crime in their wake” and described it as an "enduring plight".

Fenn was sentenced to three years imprisonment but Crater received a two-year sentence suspended for 18 months.

Judge Bate said he could take an exceptional course with Crater in light of his mitigation and what he had endured.

Crater was also given a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) as well as 25 days Rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) and a six-month trial and monitoring requirement.

The judge insisted it was "not a soft option" and urged the defendant not to throw away the chance he had been given.