Broken headlamp sighting leads to capture of drug dealer

A dealer was caught with drugs and an imitation firearm after police pulled over a car he was in.

Jody Small was sitting in the passenger seat when patrolling officers noticed the vehicle had a light out so stopped it.

As the car came to a halt in the Radford area, Small darted out the door and ran away down the street from police.

His escape attempt didn’t go to plan however, with the 20-year-old not getting far before he was detained by an officer, who also saw him drop a rucksack he’d been carrying.

After retracing their steps, they recovered the bag, which was found to be packed full of hundreds of deal bags of LSD and cannabis, quantities of cash, and a gas-powered pistol style gun.

Following the stop, around 9.45pm on 16 April of this year, Small was charged with possessing with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and possessing criminal property.

Having pleaded guilty to each offence, Small, of Radford Road, Hyson Green, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced on Thursday (19 December).

He was sentenced to four years in a young offenders’ institution.

Detective Constable Sam Richardson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“This incident provided a great example of why our policing teams conduct the patrols they do.

“While they initially took action after noticing a car had a broken headlamp, had they not made this spot, the illegal activity going on inside that vehicle may have gone undetected.

“Clearly this wasn’t the case, with Jody Small instead springing from the car when it stopped in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid detection.

“As we know now, he had a bag in his possession that was not only packed with hundreds of wraps of Class A and Class B drugs, but also contained an imitation firearm and large quantities of cash we assume was raised through his drug dealing.

“It really should go without saying, but there is no excuse whatsoever for anyone to sell drugs in our communities, or indeed to carry an imitation firearm, which although not viable, he will have to all intents and purposes been carrying to put people in fear.

“We’re pleased to see Small has now been punished for his actions.”