In a significant police operation last October, officers from Northumbria Police raided the home of 35-year-old Scott Ridley in North Shields. Although Ridley was not present during the raid, authorities uncovered a large stash of illegal drugs, including over 1,000 MDMA pills hidden in boxes. Alongside the MDMA, officers found heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and £9,000 in cash.
Ridley was subsequently arrested and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply multiple controlled substances, including heroin, MDMA, cannabis, and cocaine. On February 27, Newcastle Crown Court sentenced him to 49 months in prison for his crimes.
Detective Inspector Jonathan May commented on the case, stating, “This is an excellent result for us and it shows the power of proactive policing like Operation Impact in smashing drug supply networks. Based on solid intelligence, we executed a targeted strike, unearthing a sizeable haul of drugs and cash.”
He added, “Drugs have absolutely no place in our communities. We will keep hunting dealers and locking them up. Ridley was already jailed for 112 months last year for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, but he clearly hasn’t learned his lesson. We’re glad the courts have handed down another tough sentence to keep him behind bars.”
Detective Inspector May also thanked the public for their continued support, urging residents to report any suspicious activity promptly. He said, “Big thanks to the public for their ongoing support. Spot something dodgy? Let us know so we can act fast.”
Northumbria Police encourage the community to stay vigilant and report suspicious behaviour through various channels, including sending direct messages via social media, using the live chat or reporting forms available on the Northumbria Police website, or by calling 101.
Originally published by UKNIP.
