Jailed: Staffordshire drug dealer caught growing more than £30k of cannabis
A man who was involved in a profitable crack and heroin drug line in Staffordshire has been jailed.
David Tonks, 45, of Streethay, near Lichfield, has been jailed for four years and five months at Stafford Crown Court after admitting to a series of drug offences.
This comes as Staffordshire Police searched a property in Lichfield in November 2020, finding Tonks asleep in the bedroom.
In the property, an estimated £36,400 worth of cannabis was discovered growing in the loft, which had been converted into a grow operation.
Tonks was quickly arrested and questioned whilst in custody.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "On 12 February last year, we spotted him driving a car on Fyfield Road. He drove off at speed down Long Street, but we caught up with him and put on our blue lights.
"Tonks slowed down but then suddenly sped off again when it looked like he was going to stop, colliding with an unmarked police car and mounting the curb to escape."
Major and organised crime officers returned to his Streethay address on April 25, when a series of warrants were carried out in the Burton-on-Trent area following an investigation into a number of drug lines in the region.
Officers discovered £20,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine collectively during the warrants, which police used as evidence to show that Tonks was involved in the supply of Class A drugs for one of these drug lines.
After putting the evidence forward in court, Tonks admitted to all offences and was later jailed.
The offences were as follows:
Being concerned with the supply of crack cocaine.
Being concerned with the supply of heroin.
Being concerned with the supply of a controlled drug of Class B - Cannabis.
Producing a controlled drug of class B - Cannabis.
Two counts of driving a motor vehicle dangerously.
Driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence.
And using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance.
The spokesperson added: "We’re acting robustly against those responsible for high-harm crimes in our communities as part of our Operation Target commitment.
"Between July 2024 and July this year, we have arrested more than 400 people, and more will be coming as we continue to act proactively across Staffordshire."
