Drone helped track down Worksop drug dealer who is now behind bars
A drone helped police close in on a Worksop drug dealer who is now behind bars after he fled from Nottinghamshire to a caravan park in Skegness.
Jake Hawkins was locked up after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs - namely cocaine.
Through a police investigation it was suspected the 31-year-old was involved in drugs supply in the Worksop area.
Neighbourhood officers seized multiple items linking Hawkins to drug dealing after executing a warrant at his home in Milton Drive, Worksop, on March 4, 2024.
These included scales with white powder residue, deal bags with drug remnants and three Rolex watches.
At the same time another team of neighbourhood officers went to Hawkins' business unit in Worksop, arrested him and seized items including his mobile phone.
A digital examination of his phone found multiple incriminating messages between Hawkins and other contacts, including arrangements to buy wholesale quantities of cocaine for onward supply.
Hawkins had been due to be sentenced for his drugs charge at Nottingham Crown Court on October 16, this year but he left court before his sentencing that afternoon, prompting a bench warrant to be issued by the court for his arrest.
Thanks to some good intelligence work, Hawkins was tracked down to a caravan park in Skegness.
With the help of Lincolnshire Police colleagues and their drone, which showed Hawkins enjoying a spot of fishing, he was arrested by Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Policing Team officers on Wednesday, October 28.
The next day Hawkins was back at Nottingham Crown Court where he was given a prison sentence of three years and nine months.
Inspector Rob Harrison, district commander for Bassetlaw, said: "We recovered clear evidence showing Hawkins was involved in the serious supply of Class A drugs, including drug paraphernalia and items we recovered from his address and conversations found on his phone.
“We know Class A drugs ruin the lives of very vulnerable people in our communities and, as our work in this case demonstrates, we will continue to take robust action to target those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and use all available resources to disrupt drug-related criminality.
"Those involved in dealing drugs will face the strongest possible enforcement action as we carry out intelligence-led warrants against local offenders.
"They can expect to be firmly dealt with and put before the courts to face the consequences."