A Folkestone man has been sentenced to five years and seven months in prison for supplying Class A drugs after being discovered hiding in a wardrobe by police.
Tallanius Bridgland, 29, was arrested following a Kent Police investigation that uncovered his involvement in the supply of cocaine and heroin, some of which was hidden in a tub of nail varnish bottles.
The Investigation
Detectives linked Bridgland to drug supply activities through a mobile phone number used to contact a known drug user in Folkestone multiple times in July 2024. Further investigations connected the number to an address in Blunden Drive, leading police to carry out a search in October 2024.
The Arrest and Evidence
On 2 October 2024, officers visited the address and found Bridgland hiding in a walk-in wardrobe. A police drugs dog assisted in the search, which uncovered:
- Class A drug wraps, including cocaine and heroin.
- Some drugs concealed in a tub of nail varnish bottles.
- Cash and a mobile phone linked to drug dealing.
Charges and Sentencing
Bridgland was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs later that day. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 26 November 2024 to five years and seven months in prison.
Police Statement
Detective Sergeant Scott Drake highlighted the destructive impact of drug addiction and the determination of the police to tackle drug-related crime:
“Drug addiction causes no end of misery to the lives of users and everyone concerned with them, as well as to those communities where the effects of substance addiction ripple out.
“Dealers, who are the root of the problem, may go to all ends to try to avoid us, but we will always strive to bring them to justice and to remove drugs from the streets of Kent.”
Community Reassurance
The successful conviction underscores Kent Police’s commitment to tackling drug-related crime and protecting communities from the harm caused by illegal substances.
