Crack cocaine dealer who used Popeye to boost sales is jailed

A crack cocaine dealer who used images of cartoon sailor Popeye on business cards to promote sales of the class A drug to users, has been jailed for two and a half years today (Thursday 11th September).

Stephen Manning, 38, from Thornaby, was handed a 31-month custodial sentence for his role in a drugs phone line operation supplying crack cocaine in Thornaby.

Pic: Stephen Manning

During their investigation, officers seized business cards that Manning had been handing to existing customers, to promote his product to a wider custom base. The cards used images of pipe-smoking cartoon character Popeye to reflect the pipes that crack cocaine users often use.

The cards also featured various slang terms relating to crack cocaine, including ‘Chef’ referring to someone who ‘cooks’ the crack cocaine to prepare it for use, ‘Rolling Stones’ referring to the end product of crack cocaine which crystallises into ‘stones’ or rocks, and 24/7 to advertise that he sells and deals drugs at all hours of the day, every day.

Detective Sergeant Owen Collingwood, of the Dedicated Drugs Unit said: “Crack cocaine causes misery to our communities and preys upon vulnerable people who have become addicted to drugs because of people like Manning.

“His business cards stood out to us as most people peddling drugs tend to do this online or using social media these days, so the use of a physical card containing images of an old cartoon character was unusual.

“We will try to steer those who were customers of Manning towards drugs intervention services and continue our work to tackle more drugs lines across Teesside.”

Anyone who needs help with drug addiction can visit their local drug and alcohol service for support or visit www.drinkdrughub.co.uk for further information.