Car park drugs bust at a Gosforth hotel saw police snatch cocaine destined for streets of Tyneside
Craig Robertson, of Fawdon, was arrested after turning up to collect the drugs from courier Alister Wright
by Rob Kennedy · ChronicleLiveA drugs bust in a hotel car park saw police snatch "import purity" cocaine destined for the streets of Tyneside.
An organised crime group had sent a kilo block of the class A drug in the van of Alister Wright, who was running a legitimate courier business and claimed he didn't know what was in the package. When he got to his destination in north Gosforth, Newcastle, police were waiting and swooped.
They also arrested Craig Robertson, who had turned up to collect the drugs on behalf of those higher up the gangland chain.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was just after 7pm on February 18 2018 that a white Peugeot van driven by Wright was driven into the Travelodge car park at Rotary Way, near Gosforth Park. Plain clothes police were waiting and when Wright got out and went to the back of the van, he was detained.
The van was searched and a workman's jacket was found wrapped round a towel which was wrapped round a black carrier bag, which was wrapped round a large hard white block of white substance, which was wrapped in plastic and rubber. It was a kilo of unadulterated cocaine, described as "import purity".
While Wright was being arrested, officers noticed what turned out to be Robertson acting suspiciously in black VW Golf, which drove into the hotel car park, headed slowly towards the van before driving away. It was then driven slowly through the petrol station forecourt and eventually stopped in the McDonald's car park.
Robertson then went into the Falcon's Nest pub, where he was arrested.
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The court heard that those involved in organising the drugs delivery had been using "caller line ID spoofing", using specialised sim cards costing up to £1,500 for six months use, to mask their mobile phone numbers. Robertson also had such a device.
When Wright was interviewed, he said he had a legitimate courier business, which prosecutors accept was true. He said he was heading to Lockerbie to collect a quad bike but earlier that day he had received a job to collect an item in Chester and take it to Newcastle.
He said he had met a man in a layby and he put a package in his van and gave him the location for the delivery.
Robertson, 42, who has 30 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and also admitted dangerous driving in relation to a domestic-related offence while on bail for the drugs offences. He shunted his wife's car forwards during a row before driving at speed towards the back of her car, slamming on the brakes to avoid a collision.
Robertson, of The Meadows, Fawdon, Newcastle, was jailed for five years and two months.
Wright, 49, who has 30 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to participating in criminal activity of an organised crime group on the basis he was unaware it was a class A drug or its value and said it was a one-off for which he was paid £300.
Wright, of Bro Deg, Flint, Flintshire, was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation.
Jeremy Barton, for Robertson, said he had been operating a legitimate business and has used his time in custody constructively. He added: "Clearly there are others above him who are not before the court. Very seldom are those at the very top of the tree are caught and brought before the court."
Peter Wilson, for Wright, said he had a number of health issues. He added that the long delays in the case coming to a conclusion have had a significant impact on him.
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