A Swindon man has been jailed for over five years after being caught with £50,000 worth of class A drugs in a holdall.
Jake Bell, 34, of Eglantyne Avenue, Tadpole Garden Village, was sentenced to 61 months in prison at Swindon Crown Court on January 14, 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine.
Arrest Details
Bell was arrested on September 24, 2024, after being spotted acting suspiciously in an alleyway off Dryden Street. Officers on patrol searched him and found £300 in cash. A large holdall was later recovered from a nearby garden, containing 42 bags of heroin and crack cocaine.
CCTV footage showed Bell discarding the bag, along with a mobile phone, into the garden. The seized drugs were valued at up to £52,000 on the streets.
Police Statement
PC Whettam, who was involved in the arrest, praised the operation:
“This was a fantastic stop of an individual who had clearly become so comfortable in his drug supply activities that he was carrying such a large amount of class A drugs around Swindon. This was a great team effort, and I am pleased the courts have delivered a substantive sentence. Not only have we prevented these drugs from hitting the streets, but we have also removed a dangerous individual from our community.”
Community Support
Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
“We continue to ask the community to raise the alarm when they see things that aren’t right. Your information guides our actions and leads to great results like this case,” added PC Whettam.
Anyone with concerns about drug dealing can report information online or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
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