Drug dealer arrested and sent to prison

Richard Blackwood, 39, previously of Greentrees Crescent, was sentenced in his absence on Friday May 22 last year to a total of three and a half years.

He has also been given four more months for jumping his bail after he was arrested on July 20 while driving in Croydon.

According to police, Blackwood absconded while on court bail after giving his evidence during the second week of his trial in March 2015.

A statement by Sussex Police said: “On May 22 2015 he was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment having been found guilty of possession of cannabis with intent to supply, one year concurrent for money laundering, a four-year disqualification from driving under Section 146 Power of Criminal Courts Sentencing Act 2000 – granted as he regularly used vehicles in the course of his offending, and a five year Financial Reporting Order under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

“His fellow defendant and partner Melissa Miller, 30, received a six months prison sentence, suspended for two years, having been found guilty of money laundering.

“A third defendant Ricky Lloyd, who had previously pleaded guilty to being concerned with Blackwood in possession of cannabis with intent to supply, received 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

“A fourth defendant Luke Pullen, who was also charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply in July 2012 with Blackwood and Lloyd was found not guilty, but had also previously pleaded guilty to another possession of cannabis with intent to supply from September 2012, received 15 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.”

Detective constable Jon Freeman, of the Brighton Organised Crime Investigation Team said; “We worked closely with our colleagues from the Sussex Serious Organised Crime Unit and Economic Crime Unit, which resulted in Blackwood’s conviction. “We’d also like to thank the Metropolitan Police officers whose diligent and thorough work enabled us to bring Blackwood back to court.”

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