Pair behind bars after attempted disposing of class A drugs during raid in Eston

Daniel Gregory, Glen Walker and Brad Anderson attempted to discard high quantities of heroin and cocaine when officers forced their way into a flat on Moorcock Close.

The men – aged 30, 37 and 30 respectively – appeared topless and flustered as they attempted to flush the drugs down the kitchen sink.

The raid, which was initially executed to arrest the men for an unrelated offence of robbery, led to a total of 16 ¼ kilo packages of heroin being seized and valued between £56,000 and £80,000. While two 1kg blocks of cocaine were also recovered with a value between £76,000 and £90,000.

Officers, one armed with a Taser, swiftly apprehended the men who were put in handcuffs and escorted out of the flat.

What followed was a thorough search of the property where large amounts of heroin were found to have been trodden into the flooring both in the hallway and bathroom. Drug paraphernalia including scales and mixing bowls were also recovered and forensically tested resulting in traces of cocaine and heroin.

Keys to numerous vehicles were found inside the property and led to £5,000 in cash located inside a Volkswagen and an Audi parked outside.

The court heard how officers who raided the flat began feeling unwell due to strong drug particles in the air, and all required medical treatment along with the three defendants.

Officers visited the property at around 8.20pm on Monday 27 February 2023.

After being questioned in custody the men were subsequently charged.

Anderson was also jailed for his part in arranging a shooting on Liverton Avenue in Middlesbrough – after being instructed to do so from another unknown person.

In the early hours of Wednesday 5 July 2023 Anderson had ordered two men to pull up outside the front of the property and fire a single shot at the ground floor window. Another attempt was made to shoot at the upstairs window however it failed.

Enquiries from a phone that was seized and analysed uncovered voice notes instructing him to arrange a shooting at the house. The order is believed to be in connection with money owed for drugs.

On Monday 2 September 2024 Anderson and Walker appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced. Gregory was not present in court and instead sentenced in his absence.

• Daniel Gregory, of no fixed address, was sentenced to seven years and eight months for possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine.
  
  
• Glen Walker, previously of Lansdowne Road in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to seven years and five months for possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine.
  
  
• Brad Anderson, previously of Nut Lane in Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 10 years for possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and criminal damage.
  
  

Detective Chief Inspector Wraith said: “Officers gained entry to the premises and were able to witness Gregory, Walker and Anderson in the act of preparing cocaine and heroin, which would have been destined for onward supply. As a result of the police response, the trio panicked and attempted to discard the class A drugs and dispose of the evidence.

“Heroin and cocaine can have long lasting and devastating consequences on the lives of all those involved, seriously harming people within our community and men like Gregory, Walker and Anderson profit from that misery.

“Today’s sentencing result is a positive step forward in helping to disrupt and dismantle this criminality and we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those committing serious and organised crime in Teesside.”

If you believe drug activity to be taking place in your neighbourhood, please report it to Cleveland Police by calling 101. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.