Bumbling drug dealer caught red handed with £1k of Class A drugs buried in his garden

A bungling drug dealer has been caged after police unearthed a secret £1,000 class-A stash - underneath an innocuous-looking paving slab in his back garden. Jamie Jennings, 25, had his home in Walsall, West Midlands, raided by officers in December 2023 after it was deemed the hub of drug dealing occurring eight miles away the historic cathedral city of Lichfield.

But Staffordshire Police revealed when they searched the grounds it unearthed "more than £1,000-worth of cocaine hidden under a paving slab in the rear garden." Jennings was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Stafford Crown Court after admitting possessing and supplying cannabis and cocaine.

Following sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Fitzgerald, of our major and organised crime department, said: "Jennings was known to be operating a drugs line and by finding the cocaine under the paving slab, along with other related material, we were able to secure his prosecution.

"I am pleased Jennings admitted his offending in court and we will continue to do all we can to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs in Staffordshire."

In full Jennings admitted: possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Staffordshire Police explained how the sentence comes after officers arrested Jennings from a property off Station Road in the Rushall area of Walsall and carried out a subsequent search, in December 2023.

The force said: "The location was identified as being key to supplying drugs in and around Lichfield at that time.

"A search revealed more than £1,000-worth of cocaine hidden under a paving slab in the rear garden.

"Further drug paraphilia including scales, phones and a quantity of cannabis was found inside a property.

"Jennings was arrested at the scene, later charged, and went on to plead guilty to the offences in court."