Travelodge car park drug deal pair sentenced

A cocaine courier and the drug dealer he was caught meeting in the car park of a Travelodge have been sentenced.

Alister Wright, 49, from Flintshire, was found by police with 2.2lbs (1kg) of pure cocaine in his van in the car park of the hotel chain on Rotary Lane in Gosforth, Newcastle, in February 2018, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Officers also arrested Craig Robertson, 42, after spotting him acting suspiciously nearby. Both men were found to have been involved in the handover of drugs.

Wright was jailed for 18 months suspended for 18 months while Robertson, who also admitted dangerous driving after he deliberately crashed into his partner's car as she tried to flee from him during an incident this year, was jailed for five years and two months.

Police searched Wright's van after he arrived at the car park at about 19:00 GMT on 18 February 2018, prosecutor Richard Herrmann said.

He pointed out a package to officers which he had been given to deliver and which was found to contain a block of "unadulterated very high purity" cocaine, Mr Herrmann said.

As he was being arrested, Wright's mobile phone was repeatedly rung by a suspicious-looking number, the court heard.

Officers also noticed a VW Golf enter the car park, drive towards the van then turn away and head off at speed before pulling over in a nearby pub car park.

The driver, Robertson, was arrested and he was found to be in possession of a mobile phone which had also been called by the same number.

Robertson's phone also contained a sim card that can be bought for up to £1,500 which allows a user to mask and "spoof" their phone number, Mr Herrmann said.

In his police interview, Wright said he had been heading to Scotland to pick up a quadbike when someone had asked him to carry a package from a layby in Chester to Newcastle, the court heard.

Wright, of Bro Deg in Flint, Flintshire, admitted participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

Robertson, of the Meadows in Fawdon, Newcastle, admitted being involved in the supply of cocaine and dangerous driving.

The latter offence was committed on 13 February this year after his partner had fled their home to escape from him attacking her, the court heard.

As she tried to drive away, Robertson rammed his car into the back of hers and then pulled up beside her and shouted he would "end" her, Mr Herrmann said.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had "lived in fear for 10 years" and was "terrified" of what Robertson would do.

She said he was "unpredictable" and "not bothered about the consequences of his actions".

Robertson was also banned from driving for three years and eight months and must pass an extended test to get his licence back.

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