Dealer’s brazen attempt to hide drugs as he’s arrested in shop

A street dealer tried to hide heroin and crack cocaine inside a shop after officers entered the store to arrest him.

Jamie Cooke placed a self-seal plastic bag behind a row of wine bottles as two police constables approached.

One of the officers witnessed him outstretch his arm towards the shelf in a panicked attempt to conceal something.

The two constables searched the shelf and found a small plastic bag that contained wraps of the Class A drugs.

They went on to find further drugs, a burner phone, dealer list, scales and cash after searching his pockets, rucksack and home address.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Cooke had been identified as a suspect in a separate investigation and entered the shop, in Carsic Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, in a failed effort to escape the attention of the two officers, who were patrolling the streets.

But the officers recognised him and entered the store to arrest him.

The arrest took place on 6 April 2023 and, following an investigation, Cooke was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

The 39-year-old, of Willoughby Court, Mansfield, pleaded guilty and his sentencing took place on Thursday (16 January).

The court was told Cooke had been addicted to Class A drugs for the past 20 years and had become a street dealer to help pay off his own drug debts. 

In total, officers seized from him 48 wraps of crack cocaine with a street value of up to £500, as well as 16 wraps of heroin worth approximately £130. 

Jailing him for two years and two months, Recorder Jas Jandu told him "drugs ruin lives" and that his crimes were serious enough to warrant an immediate prison sentence.

PC Joseph Whant, who oversaw the investigation, said:

“We treat drug-related crime extremely seriously as we know the impact it has on vulnerable people and wider society.

“In this instance, Cooke clearly panicked and wrongly thought he could hide evidence in a public setting.

“In doing this, he behaved in a way that was both reckless and dangerous. I dread to think what might have happened if a small child or vulnerable person had found the drugs.

“Thankfully the arresting officers were alert to his deceptiveness and ensured these harmful substances were taken out of circulation.

“Hopefully this case will send a clear warning to others who think they can outdo the police.”