NewsNorth East criminals prosecuted for drug offences after being caught with illegal substancesThese eight criminals were in possession of various types of drugs, such as cocaine, cannabis,

heroin and LSDnechronicleBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByOwen Younger03:00, 24 MAY 2025Bookmark(L-R) Jack Fowler, Rhys Bell, Amy Elstob and Kevin Slack (Image: Chronicle Live)Get the latest

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From County Durham to Houghton-le-Spring and Howdon to Fenham, the incidents have ranged from growing cannabis in a Newcastle home to police finding £1.5m of cocaine in the boot of a car. In

one case, dealers even hid wraps of cocaine inside an Easter Egg.

Here are the eight careless criminals who were brought in front of a North East judge after being caught by police.

Jack Fowler and Rhys Bell

Jack Fowler, 24, was behind the wheel of a Hyundai in Byker when police saw a "drugs transaction" take place. Soon after, his pal Rhys Bell, 23, got in his car and police swooped in.

Bell and Fowler were arrested and hundreds of pounds worth of crack-cocaine was found stashed inside an Easter egg. A hatchet and a machete were also in the car, along with mobile phones

which included text messages relating to drug-dealing.

Fowler was jailed for four years and banned him from driving for four years and three months, while Bell, who breached a suspended sentence, was jailed for four years and 10 months.

Read the full story here.

Jack Hemmings

A man has admitted his role in the supply of cocaine in Newcastle. Jack Hemmings was part of an alleged three-strong group who were dealing the class A drug over a 16-day period back in

2021.

A court heard that the 26-year-old was stopped by police in a car with two others and arrested. Hemmings, of Georges Road, in Elswick, was in the dock this week, four years after initially

being detained, to plead guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Ruth Forster, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said the offence happened between July 2, 2021 and July 22, 2021. The case was committed to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence

by District Judge Kate Meek.

Read the full story here.

Jiri Jirout

A tenant was found to be growing cannabis in tents inside his Newcastle home when his landlord called in. Jiri Jirout, who has a previous conviction relating to cannabis resin, claimed

he'd been producing the class B drug to treat pain in his foot.

When the police were called and searched the 49-year-old's Walker address, they found the tents and plants, as well as transformers and lighting equipment, a court heard. The court

heard that Jirout, who has 16 offences on his record, was arrested and admitted growing the drug during interview, stating it was for his own personal use.

Jirout, of Walkerdene House, in Walker, has now been fined £300 after he pleaded guilty to producing the class B drug.

Read the full story here.

Mark Wilson

A man has appeared in court accused of dealing multiple types of class A and B drugs in Sunderland. Mark Wilson was in the dock this week, where he admitted supplying cannabis, supplying

MDMA, possessing ketamine with intent to supply, possessing magic mushrooms and possessing LSD.

However, he denied two further charges of possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession with intent to supply 2C-B. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that the offences were

alleged to have taken place between December 2022 and January 2023 in Houghton-le-Spring.

The 24-year-old, of Fountains Crescent, also in Houghton-le-Spring, spoke only to enter his five guilty pleas and two not guilty and to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the

brief hearing. While he waits to return to the same court for the sentencing hearing on the charges that he pleaded guilty to, Wilson has been released on unconditional bail.

Read the full story here.

Mark McDonald

A man has appeared in court accused of having 150g of heroin with intent to supply. Mark McDonald was alleged to have had the class A drug at his home in North Tyneside in July 2022.

The 44-year-old was in the dock at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court this week. McDonald, of Chatton Street, in East Howdon, North Tyneside spoke only to confirm his name,

date of birth and address and to enter a not guilty plea to one count of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

Paige Sparks, prosecuting, said 150g of the heroin was allegedly found at McDonald's then address in North Shields on July 5 2022. McDonald was released on unconditional bail to next

appear at Newcastle Crown Court on May 21.

Read the full story here.

Amy Elstob and Kevin Slack

A cocaine-couriering mum was caught transporting £1.5m of the Class A drug from Manchester to the North East. Amy Elstob, 30, and her boyfriend Kevin Slack, 41, were stopped on their way

back from Manchester, on November 14 last year.

The police, who were acting on intelligence about suspected drug dealing, found 15kg of cocaine in the boot of the car, and Teesside Crown Court heard the drugs have a street value of just

under £1.5m. Elstob, of Land Bank, Cockfield, in Bishop Auckland and Slack, of High Etherley in Bishop Auckland, both pleaded guilty to the possession of a class A drug with intent to

supply, while Slack also admitted the possession of a class B drug.

Elstob was jailed for four years, and Slack wept as Judge Wright said that he accepted he was in the car "to support your partner", before he was handed a three year prison term.

Read the full story here.

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