Paul Fisher, 35, faced court after a police raid found cocaine, cash, and links to drug sales following Honda closure.
The prosecutor, Mr. Pine, spoke about a police raid. Officers found cocaine at Fisher’s home, weighing 70 grams and valued at over £6,000. Labels on packages showed the drug’s purity.
Police located £4,620 in Fisher’s bedroom, arranged in five separate bundles. They also found scales and a BB gun. Fisher claimed he did not live there, stating his listed address was an empty building.
Fisher possessed roughly £100,000 across various accounts and bought five gold bars between 2019 and 2020. These purchases were valued at £19,000.
Police arrested Fisher in February 2021. Bank records showed money moving between accounts belonging to Fisher and his partner. Officers tied this movement to cocaine sales.
Mr. Pine mentioned Fisher’s past crimes, including robbery and assault when young. He also had a cocaine possession charge in 2013 and went to jail for drug dealing in 2014.
Mr. Pine argued Fisher ran a drug business and played a key part in it.
Fisher initially denied the charges, but later changed his plea on January 6, averting a trial.
Mr. Edwards defended Fisher, stating the drug packages did not prove he led the operation. He suggested Fisher was part of a larger chain and that there was no direct sales evidence.
Edwards added that Fisher followed the law for years and wasn’t someone who went back to crime right away. Fisher worked at Honda, a company in Swindon, starting as an agency worker before becoming a painter and decorator.
He lost his job when Honda closed their operations. Edwards said Fisher showed “resolve” by starting a recovery business called Big Boys Recovery in the South West, but it failed financially.
Edwards argued these struggles led Fisher back to drugs. He had tried hard to live a good life and also faced health problems. Fisher spent drug money on gambling, leading to a ban from bookmakers.
The court heard that the sentence would hurt Fisher’s son, as his two-year-old would miss him. Fisher’s partner would also feel the impact of his imprisonment.
The judge stated Fisher had a major role in the cocaine dealing. However, the judge acknowledged Fisher had stayed out of trouble recently and sentenced him to three years. Fisher must serve at least 40% before release.