A 33-year-old man from Essex has been sentenced to prison after police uncovered a large haul of cocaine valued at over £500,000 in Southend. Bradley Pritchard was caught last November in Thorpe Bay with 5kg of Class A drugs hidden both in his vehicle and at his residence.
Essex Police’s serious and organised crime unit had been monitoring Pritchard before stopping him on Johnstone Road. During the stop, Pritchard attempted to avoid suspicion by claiming he was “just driving a work car” and provided a false address to officers.
Following the arrest, Pritchard was found to be in possession of cocaine worth approximately £512,500, intended for distribution across South Essex. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply.
On 26 February, Basildon Crown Court sentenced Bradley Pritchard to five years and four months in prison. Other members of his drug network have already been convicted, with some awaiting sentencing.
Authorities have confirmed they will pursue Pritchard’s criminal profits through financial investigations as part of efforts to disrupt the cash flow supporting Essex’s drug trade.
Originally published by UKNIP.
