Man jailed after admitting supplying drugs to Gloucestershire

A man has been jailed after admitting bringing thousands of pounds worth of cocaine into Cheltenham.

Lennox Clarke, aged 33 and of Hagley Wood Lane, Stourbridge, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court for sentencing on Monday (24 March).

He had previously pleaded guilty to the supply of a Class A drug.

The court heard that police had identified Clarke as the man responsible for supplying a Cheltenham drug dealer, Ben Goff.

Goff, aged 30 and of Leighton Road, had been identified following information from the community around drug dealing in the area.

Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit tracked Goff, revealing he had made numerous visits between Cheltenham and the West Midlands. When he returned from the West Midlands, he was selling cocaine in quantities ranging between 28g and 1kg.

Between September and November 2023, 12 significant meetings were observed between Goff and Clarke.

Goff was arrested when a taxi he was returning in was stopped by police, and found to be in possession of 1kg of cocaine. Data on his mobile phone revealed he had been in regular contact with Clarke, who was referred to on the phone as Boxer, due to him being a former professional boxer.

Following these meetings Goff was then seen to travel to Gloucestershire and meet with customers, including Darran Davies and Gary Falloon, who he distributed the drugs to for further supply.

On 16 October 2023, Clarke travelled to Cheltenham with two other men in order to enforce debts with a large number of Goff's customers. 

After Goff's arrest on 10 November 2023, Clarke fled the country, travelling to Thailand.

He returned to the UK in March last year, and was arrested by officers at his home address on 23 March 2024.

The court was also told that Clarke had a previous conviction for supplying Class B drugs in 2012.

Sentencing Clarke, Judge Ian Lawrie KC said: "In many ways, you have got more than most people who come before the court. I'm at a loss to why you got involved in this.

"I know only too well, as a judge, the extraordinary harm Class A drugs bring to a community.

"But for you, it was an opportunity to earn some easy money."

Clarke was sentenced to six years and four months in prison, and will be eligible for release on licence after serving half of this. He will also serve 317 days less in custody for time spent on curfew.

Goff is currently serving a seven-year prison term for his part in the supply chain. Falloon, aged 31 and of Bush Court, Cheltenham, was sentenced to three years and six months while Davies, aged 40 and of Chivenor Way, Gloucester, was sentenced to five years and eight months

Detective Inspector Matt Phillips, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: "Through our work, we see the devastating impact that drugs can have on individuals and their communities.

“We hope this sends the message that we will work tirelessly to bring a conviction against those involved in the drugs trade, wherever they may be in the country."

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

Lennox Clarke

Ben Goff

Darran Davies

 

Gary Falloon