Valerie Green, 45, from Magpie Hall Road, Chatham pleads guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine from her home
Published: 17:00, 15 November 2016
A woman has pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine from her home which was one of two nuisance flats closed by police.
Valerie Green was arrested in August after officers executed a search warrant at her flat in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham.
The 45-year-old was in the process of packaging the substances for street deals and more than 40 grams of Class A drugs were recovered from the address. Police also seized more than £1,000 in cash, which had been stored in a case beside a sofa.
She was one of four people arrested as part of the inquiry into the activities of people living in and frequenting two flats in the road. According to police, people living in and visiting the properties had caused persistent problems and residents regularly called the police reporting anti-social behaviour as well as drink and drug use.
Green was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and a further charge of acquiring or possessing criminal property in relation to the money recovered from the case.
She pleaded guilty to all three charges at Medway Magistrates' Court on Thursday and has been remanded in custody. She will appear at court for sentencing at a later date.
DC Phil Pead said: "Green was caught red handed preparing significant quantities of drugs for further sale. She had little choice but to plead guilty, given the evidence we have been able to bring before the courts.
"We will continue to target those we believe are causing substantial harm in our communities by dealing in destructive drugs such as heroin. But we still also need help from residents to ensure people like Green are punished for their crimes. If you see anything suspicious, always report it to police, via 101 or call 999 if it's an emergency."
Two men who were also in the property were arrested at the time but have been released without charge.
In October, Tony Gray, 53, of Magpie Hall Road, was jailed for 40 months after pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin at Maidstone Crown Court.
The flats were closed in October when police secured a closure order from Medway magistrates. The closure ruling will last until December 8 and makes it an offence for anyone to enter the properties during this time.
Officers hope the closures will reduce anti-social behaviour in the area and the supply and use of drugs across Chatham and surrounding towns.
This investigation was part of Operation Jupiter, a local strategy tackling emerging criminal gangs, whose members often travel into the county from other areas.
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Clare Freeman