Northampton drug dealer jailed thanks to community intelligence

Community concerns about drug dealing at Kingsthorpe Recreation Ground in Northampton have resulted in a 45-year-old man being sentenced to 40 months in prison.

On March 6, 2024, Northamptonshire Police received a call about a man who was reportedly openly dealing drugs in and around the park in Northfield Way on a regular basis.

Acting on the intelligence, officers from the Force’s Operation Revive West team went to the recreation ground shortly before 2.30pm that afternoon and saw three men sitting on a park bench.

As they approached, one of the men – Daniel William Smith – threw items on the floor, stood up and went to walk off towards Welford Road before he was detained by the officers under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

During a search of Smith, officers seized 130 individual wraps of heroin and 47 deals of crack cocaine along with £90 in cash, two black iPhones and a knuckle duster. A further three mobile phones and £95 in cash were retrieved near the bench.

Smith was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, namely heroin and crack cocaine – and one of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on March 7, Smith was remanded in custody until his next court hearing at the county’s crown court on April 4, where he pleaded guilty to both the drug and offensive weapon charges.

On October 1, Smith, formerly of Glebe Road, Boughton, returned Northampton Crown Court where he was sentenced to 40 months in prison and ordered to pay a £228 surcharge, while a forfeiture and destruction order was made to destroy the Class A drugs and knuckle duster.

The presiding judge also made a forfeiture application under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, for the seized money (£185) to be redirected to the Northamptonshire Community Fund, which provides financial support to charities.

Sergeant Scott Garbett, of Operation Revive West, said: “I would like to thank the member of the public who reported their concerns about Daniel Smith, who was openly dealing drugs in plain sight of visitors to the park.

“The arrest and subsequent conviction of Smith was a direct result of this community intelligence, and I would urge anyone who has similar concerns about drug dealing within their local communities to keep reporting suspicious activity to us.

“Tackling and preventing drug harm is a matter of priority for the Force and we will continue to act on information to disrupt those who prey on the most vulnerable people in our society and bring misery to our streets and communities.”

If anyone has concerns about drug dealing within your community please report it to us on 101, online at www.northants.police.uk/ro or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.