Friend of Wolverhampton drug dealer cleared over £500k stash
The girlfriend of a major Black Country drug dealer has been cleared of helping him to run the racket – and so has one of his best pals.
Teresa Shaw was a regular visitor to the home of Jerome Nash, aged 23, in Stanley Road, Bushbury, where armed police found a £500,000 stash of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
But the 25-year-old, who was at the address when it was raided at 3am on May 27, told the Wolverhampton Crown Court jury she knew nothing of his drug dealing until he saw the police outside.
She explained: "'He said 'I'm f***ed.' He was running all over the place, going from room to room, opening cupboards and moving bags."
Nash was eventually found hiding in a wardrobe.
Miss Shaw, who had a one year on-off relationship with Nash revealed: "He never gave me money - he was not generous."
She explained that she went to his home up to three times a week during the romance but did not see any evidence of drug dealing during the visits and was not involved in the trade.
"Every time I saw him he was either making music in the house or going to get food," she said.
Nash's long-time friend Daniel Poplin, 25, also in the house when police swooped, was also acquitted of all charges.
The defendant said: "I had been aware of drugs at the address for about a month and a half before this. It was nothing to do with me. He never asked me to help him and I did not."
The 25-year-old, who produces and makes music, had known keen rapper Nash for up to ten years.
He said: "My purpose in continuing to go to his house after seeing the drugs was strictly for the music. We shared a mutual passion for it."
Miss Shaw from Wayside, Pendeford, and Poplin of Burton Crescent, Springfield were both found not guilty of possession of heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and cannabis with intent.
Jerome Nash, who has a previous conviction for drug dealing, has admitted eight charges including intent to supply drugs, possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and possession of a gun and ammunition. He will be sentenced at a later date.