Man Sentenced after Class A Drug Dealing on Illegal Bike in Middlesbrough Park
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A man has been sentenced after the police drone caught him drug dealing in a Middlesbrough town centre park.
Proactive Team officers and Neighbourhood Team officers in Middlesbrough deployed a drone in Albert Park around 2pm on Monday 16th February, after reports of drug dealing in the area.
Before long, Junior Lavin (pictured below), aged 19, of Pemberton Crescent in Middlesbrough pulled up on an electric bike and carried out a drug deal witnessed by the drone, before attempting to make off from plain-clothed officers who intercepted the deal.
*** Pictured: Junior Lavin has now been sentenced ***
After a short foot pursuit, he was arrested and an electric bike was seized along with over 30 deals of crack cocaine.
A subsequent search of an address led to a second recovery of an electric bike - both are pictured below.
Lavin was charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession of criminal property and driving without a licence or insurance. At Teesside Crown Court on Monday 3rd August, he was sentenced to a two-year sentence which was suspended for two years.
Middlesbrough Proactive Team Sergeant John Sproson said: “We will use all tools available to us in the fight against class A drugs in Middlesbrough. Utilising the drone and other tactics, we will continue to remove class A drugs from the streets of Middlesbrough and seize any illegal bikes which assist dealers in carrying out this criminality.”
To report illegal off-road bikes to police, or any information on where they are being stored, please contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.
You can also report via the COPA app at:
For Apple users: COPA on the App Store
For android users: COPA - Cleveland Policing App – Apps on Google Play