Thurcroft: Pair sentenced for drug offences

Ryan Bradley, 22, of Katherine Road in Thurcroft, pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, 23rd January, to supplying cannabis and was given a 27-month prison sentence.

His associate Lee James Crowther, 42, of Birks Holt Drive in Maltby, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis. He was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The investigation into the pair began after South Yorkshire Police officers found evidence of cannabis production at Crowther’s home address in February 2013.

The property was searched and 20 cannabis plants were discovered within a hydroponics setup in his bedroom. Both Bradley and Crowther were arrested and Bradley’s phone was seized.

Around 13,000 text messages were retrieved from that mobile phone , of which “numerous” messages were drugs-related. In police interviews, Bradley claimed at least 15 friends used his phone and any of them could have sent the messages.

However, both defendants then pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court and were sentenced yesterday.

Acting Police Sergeant Wayne Nuttall said: “As this great result shows, South Yorkshire Police will not tolerate drug dealing and will robustly investigate any such reports of crime in order to bring offenders to justice.

“Drugs ruin lives and are a blight on communities. The sentence Bradley received should be a warning to others who engage in such activities.”