Three men sentenced for drug offences

Three men have been sentenced after pleading guilty to class A drug offences.

Picture: Liam Tooke (Left) and Edward Hadley (Right)

Edward Hadley, aged 27, and of Mervyn King Close, Fakenham, Liam Tooke, also aged 27, and of Wensum Way, Fakenham and Wesley Woodford, aged 28 and of no fixed address were sentenced yesterday (Wednesday 31 January 2024) at Norwich Crown Court.

This sentencing follows their arrests on Thursday 17 August 2023 when a search warrant was executed on Hadley’s home address as a part of an organised operation. Officers found all three defendants present at the address, as well as numerous bagged amounts of white powder and a white crystal substance, later confirmed as cocaine and ketamine. The quantity of cocaine seized from the address had an estimated street value of £39,000. In addition to this, a large quantity of cash (approximately £10,000), multiple mobiles phones and a set of digital scales were also seized.

Hadley, Tooke and Woodford were all arrested and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. All three men were later charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and possession of criminal property and remanded into custody.

Edward Hadley pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, namely cocaine and possession of criminal property. He was also found to have breached his previous suspended sentence. He was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison.

Liam Tooke pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, namely cocaine and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Wesley Woodford pled guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug, namely Ketamine and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Investigating Officer Sgt Daniel Shelley said: “Dealing drugs in our local communities will not be tolerated.

“This type of criminal behaviour can have a devastating impact and we will continue to work to remove the threat it can pose.”