Two men have been sentenced for their roles in the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine across north Leicestershire.
Darnell Fuller, 25, from Lancaster Way, Nottingham, and Jamie Pladgeman, 33, from Pevensey Road, Loughborough, used multiple phones to send bulk text messages targeting drug users in towns including Coalville, Ellistown, Hugglescote, and Shepshed.
The pair were arrested in March 2022 during an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in the region. During the search of Fuller’s home, police discovered ammunition and a firearm.
Fuller was sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting to being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm. Meanwhile, Pladgeman pleaded guilty to the same drug supply charges but was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Chris Fox stated, “Fuller and Pladgeman were part of a wider network exploiting vulnerable individuals in our communities. By sending bulk texts, they knew they could lure drug users to come forward.”
Fox added, “Fuller operated from Nottinghamshire, thinking he could avoid detection, while Pladgeman acted as their local contact in Leicestershire, making several street-level drug deals in north-west Leicestershire.”