Grimsby drug dealers jailed

North East Lincolnshire 

Two men who were involved in a drug dealing operation in Grimsby have been jailed for a combined total of seven years and five months following their appearance at Grimsby Crown Court today (Friday, 11 April 2025).

Jake Clarke, 19-years-old of Evesham Avenue in Grimsby pleaded guilty to four counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and received four years and five months behind bars.

Joshua Deakins, 21-years-old, of Spring Bank, Grimsby pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and received three years behind bars. 

An investigation was launched in Summer 2024 after officers identified that an organised crime group had been operating a county lines drugs network in Grimsby.

Detective Constable Jane Hardie said: ''Extensive enquiries led to officers identifying an address on Spring Bank in Grimsby which was suspected to be connected to a drugs line known as "AJ”.

With enough evidence gathered, on Thursday 5 September 2024, the team executed a search warrant at the address on Spring Bank. During extensive searches carried out by specialists’ teams from the Southbank Kinetic Team and CSI, officers recovered mobile phones and a knotted plastic wrap containing Heroin, valued at approximately £600 from the address.’’

As officers continued their search of the property, a red shoe box was found in the kitchen loft. Upon opening the box, officers seized seven knotted plastic wraps of Heroin, valued by a Drugs Expert Witness at approximately £8,400. Joshua Deakins was subsequently arrested at the address on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A-drugs.

Further phone data analysis uncovered evidence of drug-related activities. A phone belonging to Deakins contained a detailed list of drug debts owed by users, along with messages referencing the process of packaging drugs and expressing reluctance to continue doing so.

Analysis revealed that it was used to send bulk text messages advertising the sale of crack cocaine and heroin. Additional messages found on the device were related to the supply of cocaine.

Forensic analysis of the red shoebox recovered from Springbank revealed fingerprints matching Clarke's, further underlining his connection to the criminal activities.

Following enquires carried out by officers into Clark and Deakins activities officers were led to an address on Heneage Road in Grimsby.

Upon entering the property, officers seized a mobile phone and a disposable phone, devices commonly linked to drug dealing, alongside a bag containing wraps of Class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin. Jake Clarke was found at the address and was arrested at the property on suspicion of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs. Dealer lists were then later uncovered in the notes section of a phone seized from Clarke.

The phone analysis from the phones showed that the AJ drug line was used to send daily messages advertising drugs for sale, ranging from 80 to as many as 400 bulk messages.

 Deakins and Clark were subsequently charged and were remanded to appear at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday 28 January.

Detective Constable Jane Hardie continues: “We are committed to tackling drug dealing in our area and will take a proactive approach in conducting warrants and putting offenders behind bars. Investigating and tackling serious and organised crime remains a priority for us, and I’m reassured that Clarke and Deakins are now off our streets and being punished for their crimes.

 Detective Inspector Tom Kelly from our Kinetic Organised Crime Team added: “I hope today’s sentencing serves as a stark warning to those who think it’s okay to possess and supply drugs in our communities. 

“From the established work with our partners, neighbourhood policing teams and the Kinetic Organised Crime Group Team, supported by information from members of the public, we were able to gather the information to show where Deakins and Clarke were undertaking their criminal activities. 

“We work relentlessly to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups operating within our area, and I would like to thank our colleagues and partnering agencies for their continued support not only throughout the entirety of the investigation, but all the work they do to make a real difference and help take drugs off our streets.

“We investigate all information that we receive, and we would like to reassure members of the public that whilst you may not see immediate action, the information you provide helps us build the bigger picture of evidence to have the best possible chance of a sentence like we’ve seen here.

Please keep talking to us if you have any information about drug-related or other crimes in your community. You can report via our non-emergency number 101 or report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.