Three dealers sentenced at Newcastle court for drug conspiracy

William Davidson, 24, of The Copse, Blaydon; Harry Fletcher, 26, of William Wailes Walk, Gateshead; Victoria Trotter, 26, of The Copse, Blaydon, were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after a police investigation uncovered a conspiracy to supply a variety of drugs for sale across the North East.

The three worked to organise the delivery of “multi-kilo amounts” of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ketamine and MDMA.

Fletcher was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (March 8), while Davidson was sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment on Tuesday (March 12), and Trotter was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to undertake 210 hours of unpaid work.

Detective Chief Inspector Marc Michael, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is yet another great outcome for our communities which was made possible through the committed work of our outstanding team, which is dedicated to identifying and disrupting these networks.

“The offenders were aware of the illegalities of their actions and the damage these destructive and harmful substances cause to our communities.”

“This case should serve as a warning to anyone who believes they can carry out drug dealing with impunity.

“Regardless of the ‘precautions’ you take, you will not get away with it – we do not tolerate drug-related crime in the North East and will continue to use every tool at our disposal to pursue offenders and dismantle the criminal organisations behind them.

“Our clampdown on organised crime through Operation Sentinel continues, and we would urge anyone in our communities to report any suspicious activity and share their concerns so that we can take the appropriate action.”

Fletcher, using the handles ‘Chip-away’ and ‘Yellowtrain’, communicated with his associates via an EncroChat encrypted mobile phone.

Davidson, another EncroChat user who worked under the handle ‘Greggsstakebake’, followed Fletcher’s orders and operated as a courier and dealer, as well as a bookkeeper.

Davidson was a disqualified driver who asked his partner Trotter to drive him to drug and cash exchanges.

Between March 29, 2020, to May 22 of the same year, the group were connected to the supply of five kilos of ketamine, three-and-a-half kilos of heroin, two kilos of cocaine, and one kilo of MDMA.

Officers working as part of Operation Venetic discovered the drug plot in June 2020.

Davidson, Fletcher, and Trotter were all arrested in January 2021, and made their first appearances at Newcastle Crown Court in September 2022.

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Davidson and Fletcher pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and ketamine in January of this year, while Trotter pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

If you’ve seen something suspicious in your community, use the ‘Report’ page of the Northumbria Police website or call 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.