Michael Hugill sentenced for a number of drug-related incidents yesterday

Pic: Michael Hugill

This is the moment two plain clothed police officers on pedal bikes spot a drug deal taking place on a residential street in broad daylight.

Officers from Middlesbrough’s Proactive Team were patrolling North Ormesby on bikes at 3:30pm, on 10th February, when they witnessed drugs being dealt to a queue of people on Jubilee Street.

One officer rides past on his bike as the dealer sells drugs to his customers, completely unaware that they are being watched by police. The officer turns at the top of the road, before he and his colleague swoop in on their pedal cycles to detain and arrest the dealer, 20-year-old Michael Hugill.

The officers identified themselves and arrested Hugill, however he resisted arrest, punching both officers in the face. When they searched him, they found 22 wraps of heroin in his pocket and a machete tucked down his tracksuit bottoms, along with more than £600 in cash. Hugill was racially verbally abusive to one officer and was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin, possession of a bladed article, assault on an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment.

In a further incident, on Saturday 1st July 2023, Michael Hugill was seen by door staff attempting to enter a nightclub in Middlesbrough town centre with a knife. Officers attended and arrested him, before charging him with possession of a bladed article.

In the most recent incident on Friday 16th February 2024, Hugill was found to be in possession of hundreds of pounds in cash and a large quantity of crack cocaine when a drugs warrant was carried out at a property on Edward Street in North Ormesby. He was again charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and was remanded.

Yesterday, 20-year-old Michael Hugill was sentenced today for 4 years and 11 months for all three incidents.

Sergeant John Sproson said: “I welcome the sentence handed to Michael Hugill today.

“Time and time again, Michael Hugill has committed drug-related crime; causing misery for our local communities. Today’s outcome shows that this won’t be tolerated and we will do everything we can in Middlesbrough to clamp down on drugs and tackle knife crime.

“I hope this sends the message to those intent on peddling drugs and carrying weapons, that the Proactive Team is always patrolling, you just might not know it.

“I’d like to thank the people of Middlesbrough for reporting incidents to us so that we can take action. Please keep reporting incidents to us at www.cleveland.police.uk, on 101 or in an emergency always call 999.”