Drug dealing trio sentenced following police action

Three drug dealers have been sentenced after being caught with heroin and crack cocaine.

Karl Hibbett was driving Lamar Lewis and Louis Fletcher through Bulwell when their car was stopped by police.

After initially pulling the vehicle over for an unrelated offence, officers made the decision to search Hibbett, Lewis, and Fletcher.

This resulted in the latter of the trio being found to be trying to hide more than 20 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in their possession.

Following that stop on 11 January 2021, police carried out searches of Lewis’ home address, which led to the discovery of around £800 in cash.

Hibbett and Lewis were also the driver and passenger during a separate car stop in Grantham a few months earlier on 10 October 2020.

This time, the duo were pulled over by Lincolnshire officers, after they received intelligence that a drug dealer was in the vehicle.

No drugs were found onboard, although a phone was seized that contained messages linking Hibbett and Lewis to the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

The two car stops would lead to Hibbett, 47, Lewis, 21, and Fletcher, 20, being charged with a number of different offences.

Fletcher was also further charged after being caught by police with quantities of heroin and cocaine at a property in Ripley, Derbyshire, on 30 December 2023. 

Hibbett and Lewis both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, while Fletcher admitted to four counts of possessing with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Lewis additionally admitted to possessing with intent to supply Class A drugs and possessing criminal property.

The trio all appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (8 February).

Fletcher, of Charlock Close, Bulwell Forest, was sentenced to four years and six months in a young offenders' institution.

Hibbett, of Andover Road, Bestwood, was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to complete a one-month drug rehabilitation programme and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Lewis, of Raymede Drive, Bestwood, was sentenced to two years in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and five rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Detective Constable Matt Wakeling, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Heroin and crack cocaine both damage everything they touch, with these substances literally ruining the lives of anyone connected to them.

“Hibbett, Lewis, and Fletcher will have known about the potential devastation their decision to sell these drugs could cause but they elected to carry on doing it anyway.  

“This decision would have no doubt been motivated by the chance to make money for themselves, but as they’re now finding out, the punishment for dealing Class A drugs can be very costly.”