Man jailed after pleading guilty to supplying class A drugs in Cheltenham

A man has been jailed after several thousand pounds worth of drugs and cash were found at his home in Cheltenham.

Richard Cooper, aged 39 and of Bridge Street in Cheltenham, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday 1 August where he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Cooper had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug namely cocaine and possession of criminal property.

Officers from the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Policing Area executed a drugs warrant at Cooper's address on Thursday 3 July during which time a large amount of individually prepared wraps of drugs and £4,275 in cash was found.

Cooper was subsequently arrested and charged with the offences which he pleaded guilty to on 4 July.

Enquiries by a drugs expert established that the drugs hidden in the bedside drawers of Cooper's bedroom were approximately 420 individually prepared of 0.5g wraps of cocaine with an estimated resale value of £17,000.

During sentencing Cooper stated that he had disagreed with the drugs expert's ruling and that the amount and weight of the drugs had been overestimated.

Several iPhones were also seized from Cooper's address, one of which was constantly ringing. Messages on the lock screen appeared consistent with being a busy drugs line with customers attempting to call in order to buy drugs.

Cooper gave no comment in police interview but did accept that he was the only person who lived at the address when the drugs were seized. 

He also expressed regret and remorse about his drug dealing activity stating he had struggled to get a steady job following a previous spell in prison.

Inspector Grant White from the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Policing Area said: "The team are glad that Cooper has been taken off the streets and is no longer able to target the people that he had been dealing drugs to.

"This case is just another example of how tirelessly we are working to disrupt those who think they can deal drugs here in Gloucestershire."

Anyone who has concerns or intelligence about drug dealing can report this to police 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 

Bodyworn video from Richard Cooper case.mp4

Richard Cooper

Drugs found within a bag in Cooper's bedroom

£5, £10 and £20 notes found hidden in Cooper's bedroom

£50 notes found hidden in Cooper's bedroom