Cheltenham drug dealer who used taxis to collect drugs jailed

A Cheltenham drug dealer used taxis and his mother’s car to collect drugs in Birmingham to sell in Gloucestershire over a three-month period, a court has heard.

Ben Goff, aged 29, and of Leighton Road, was sentenced to seven years in jail at Gloucester Crown Court today (Friday 9 February). He must serve three years and six months before he is eligible to be released on licence.

He had pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine, along with three counts of driving while disqualified, at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that Goff had been disqualified from driving in June 2023. However, he had told his buyers in Gloucestershire that he was still able to supply them with cocaine.

He used a taxi service for some of his trips to the West Midlands in order to conduct the deals and buy the drugs.

Following an extensive investigation by a specialist team of officers who regularly target drug dealers, Goff was stopped by police on 17 October driving his mother’s car. Research conducted by police showed that he had used this car on 16 occasions to travel to the West Midlands.

He was arrested on 10 November after taking a taxi from Cheltenham to Stourbridge to conduct a deal.

Police removed a block of high purity cocaine weighing just over 1kg, with an estimated street value of £26,000.

Messages on his mobile phone showed he had been making a number of trips in order to obtain the drugs.

As well as the jail sentence, Goff was disqualified from driving for five years from the date of his release.

This case is another example of how the Constabulary is working tirelessly to disrupt the drugs market in Gloucestershire and dismantle organised crime groups.

Enforcement activity takes place all year round, with those involved in drug supply being warned that they will be caught and put before the courts.