Chatham dealer sold heroin and crack through texts sent to users
A drug dealer from Chatham[1] who sold heroin and crack via text messages has been jailed. Toby Able, 22, sent marketing messages to users across the Medway towns and "reaped significant financial benefit" according to police.
Kent Police said Able was initially identified as a suspect in March this year, after officers seized a phone from a woman arrested for class A drug supply offences. Subsequent enquiries including an examination of the device identified Able, of Maidstone Road, as the holder of a phone number used to send the marketing messages.
His home was searched in July. Officers recovered two phones used to send the texts.
Able was arrested and later charged. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin in August, and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, September 26.
He was sentenced to three years and two months in prison. Detective Sergeant Kelly Leventis, of Kent Police’s County Line and Gangs Team, said: "Able spent four months as a key player in this supply chain of class A drugs to the Medway[4] towns.
"He reaped significant financial benefit from taking advantage of addiction and showed little understanding of the corrosive effects his offending will have had on the towns and neighbourhoods he targeted. Criminals like Able wrongly believe they can operate without consequence. However, we are showing time and time again that the reality is that drug dealers who try to exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our communities can expect a robust response and ultimately a prison sentence."
References
- ^ Chatham (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Fraudster conned victim out of £50k for everyday jobs from weeding to new fencing (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Robber threatened to spray man with 'unknown substance' before stealing his watch (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Medway (www.kentlive.news)