Picture: Daniel Fleming
A couple from South Ockendon have been sentenced after pleading guilty for their part in a so called ‘county line’ drug dealing gang.
Officers from the West Operation Raptor team raided the home of Harley Burness-Crouch, 27, and Daniel Fleming, 28, on two separate occasions following information they were part of a drug dealing line known as “Rico”.
During the first warrant on 7 June last year officers found eight mobile phones, a can of CS gas and over a kilogram of cannabis and 17.6g of cocaine. The combined street value of the drugs is estimated to be around £13,770.
Two large hunting knives were also found next to the couple’s bed and over £26,000 in cash was seized.
Both were released under investigation until a second warrant was executed on 12 December.
During that second warrant a further four mobile phones were found, as well as a cocaine worth hundreds of pounds and over 110g of cannabis, valued at over £1,000.
Burness-Crouch pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis, one count of possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid and one count of acquiring criminal property. She was given a jail term of two years eight months which the judge deferred for six months to enable her to turn her life around.
Fleming pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis and one count of acquiring criminal property. He was jailed for five years three months.
Both were sentenced on Wednesday 3 April.
Following the sentencing Sgt Scott Fitzmaurice of the West Operation Raptor team said: “Fleming and Burness-Crouch were key members of the Rico gang, as evidenced by the amount of cocaine, cannabis, weapons and mobile phones found at their home.
“Thankfully we raided their property twice and seized the drugs before they were able to reach the streets.
“We will continue to hunt down those involved in drug and gang-related crime and turn up at their front door when they least expect it.”
Tags: South Ockendon
