Michael Jordan Cook, 28, who was homeless and caught red-handed, has been sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison at Swindon Crown Court. Cook pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, offering to supply Class A drugs, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Owen Rhys Wilson, 20, from Gorse Hill, received a 16-month suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Wilson was found with several wraps of Class A drugs during a police raid.
The crackdown began in October 2022 when Swindon Borough Council’s housing team raised concerns about drug dealing at Baileys Farmhouse. Police raided the property and arrested Wilson on the spot with heroin and crack cocaine.
Shortly after the raid, officers responded to a 999 call reporting a suspicious man wearing a balaclava returning to the scene. A foot chase followed, resulting in Cook’s arrest. CCTV footage showed Cook discarding bags of cannabis near a nursery. Further phone analysis linked Cook to directing Wilson to supply local Class A drug users.
Acting Sergeant Hesketh of the Local Police Tasking Team praised the partnership work between the police and Swindon Borough Council housing department. He said, “This investigation was a direct result of partnership working with Swindon Borough Council housing department. I welcome the prison sentence given to Cook as he played a significant role within the drug dealing operation.”
He added, “This sentence should demonstrate that Wiltshire Police will not tolerate drug dealing in Swindon and we are committed to tackling these criminals robustly.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
