Man sentenced after pleading guilty to drug dealing in Cheltenham

A man has been jailed for his involvement in supplying class A drugs to people living in Cheltenham.

Anthony "AJ" Maher, aged 21 and formerly of Moors Avenue, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison at Gloucester Crown Court this afternoon (Thursday 30 May) after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary's Vanguard Team became aware of Maher's drug dealing while investigating a drugs line which was operating within the town.

Maher had been using several phone numbers to send bulk text messages offering drugs for sale before booking taxis and meeting those who replied to his offerings. Examples of the text messages sent by Maher include "Active 24/7 Best of Both".

Officers were able to link Maher to the drugs line after a mobile phone was left at the scene of a collision in Hester’s Way on 11 September 2023. The phone was forensically downloaded and attributed to Maher as the device name showed as "AJ`s iPhone" and the Apple ID included his name in the email address.

Other linked telephone numbers were later identified which showed numerous calls to local taxi companies. All six taxis were booked under Maher's middle name and made regular trips between his home address and areas where drugs were being dealt.

Maher was arrested on 11 November 2023 where he was found in possession of a Nokia 106 burner style phone which had a dual sim that allowed him to send texts from multiple numbers at once.

He wasn't in possession of any drugs but text messages examined by officers were indicative of drug supply with multiple conversations discussing the dealing of heroin and crack cocaine.

Maher was subsequently charged with one count of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and one count of being concerned in the supply of heroin. He pleaded guilty to both charges on Monday 8 January this year (2024).

A police spokesperson said: "Maher is a well-known individual in Cheltenham who has a significant impact within the community due to his anti-social behaviour and violent offending. 

"I am glad that he has been taken off the streets and is no longer able to target those who he had been dealing drugs to."

Anyone who has concerns or intelligence about drug dealing can report this via the following link https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/.

Alternatively you can report information anonymously through the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously