More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A prolific drug dealer has been jailed after mobile phone data showed he had been offering cocaine to more than 120 people.
Thomas O’Toole was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for supplying the network of Class A drugs throughout Tonbridge.
Kent Police first uncovered evidence of O’Toole’s operation in January.
Enquiries into a suspected drugs line initially linked a phone number to an address in Trench Road, which O’Toole had links to.
The line was being used to send regular marketing messages offering drugs for sale.
On April 20, an officer on patrol stopped O’Toole, who told the constable he was collecting waste and scrap metal as a means to earn money.
The admission proved to be important, as one of the drugs supply texts previously connected to the phone line had also been found to contain wording offering free scrap metal collection.
"Drug dealers who try and operate in our communities can expect a robust response and ultimately a prison sentence."
During the early hours of May 7, a search warrant was then executed at O’Toole’s Audley Avenue home.
A mobile phone was recovered which has links to the deal line. It appeared to have been hastily dismantled in an attempt to make it inoperative.
Quantities of cocaine, cannabis and cash were also seized.
O’Toole, aged 27, was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine, as well as two counts of possessing drugs.
At Maidstone Crown Court he pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday.
PC James O’Gorman of the Tonbridge Community Policing Team said: "O’Toole is a repeat and prolific offender, who despite previous convictions and prison sentences clearly has no intention of changing his ways.
"He was arrested as a result of some determined and excellent policing by local officers and ultimately this has prevented a significant amount of drugs from being distributed onto the streets.
"Criminals like O’Toole wrongly believe they can operate with impunity.
"We are showing time and time again that the reality is that drug dealers who try and operate in our communities can expect a robust response and ultimately a prison sentence."
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