Man, 19, sentenced for drugs offences as part of Op Revive

A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison for drugs offences as part of Operation Revive.

On May 4 this year, PC Josh Unsworth and PC Paige Smith were on the lookout for Oskar Podolak after he had made off from them earlier in the day, and at about 10.20pm, they spotted him in Herriotts Lane, Wellingborough.

Both officers witnessed him talking to a known drug-user in the area and as officers approached, he made off once again.

However this time, he didn’t get away, being detained a short time later by PC Unsworth and found to have a large quantity of heroin and crack cocaine in his possession.

Podolak, previously of Beanfield Avenue, Corby, was subsequently charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and pleaded guilty to the offences on June 19, at Northampton Crown Court.

He returned to the same court last Wednesday (July 12), where he was handed a sentence of three years and two months in prison.

PC Josh Unsworth said: “I am pleased with the sentence handed to Podolak and hope this is seen as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of dealing drugs in Northamptonshire.

“PC Paige Smith and I worked really hard that day to try and find Podolak after he made off from us and thankfully, due to some good intelligence development, we were able to detain him later that night. 

“Too many young people are throwing their lives away by deciding to get involved in gang or drug criminality. We know this isn’t always a choice and if anyone out there is involved with this lifestyle and wants out, please get in touch through 101, we will listen and we will help.

“Lastly, I’d like to thank my Operation Revive detective colleagues who put so much of their hard work and time in this case, getting it over the line and resulting in this fantastic sentence.”