Mark Gilbert, 51, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his involvement in a heroin and crack cocaine trafficking operation. Gilbert's operation was uncovered when he used his 'graft phone' to call a taxi home from a police station. He was also found to have been using the phone to send out 'flare messages', texts advertising class A substances for sale.
A man's involvement in a heroin and crack cocaine trafficking operation was exposed when he used his 'graft phone' to call a taxi home from a police station. Mark Gilbert, 51, was connected to the supply of drugs in the Wirral area between July and November last year. This was discovered after a number used to send out 'flare messages', texts advertising class A substances, was frequently located at his address on Lancaster Avenue in Wallasey.
Gilbert was also stopped by officers while in possession of the device and used it to call a taxi from a custody suite while 'helping police with another matter'. This led to police attending his property on November 18 and arresting Gilbert. The mobile phone used in the operation was seized and found to have been used to distribute a total of 3,200 flare messages. Examples read out in court included 'fat bits', 'on', 'best' and 'three for 20', with some stating only 'A', which were apparently 'signals' indicating that suppliers were 'ready to deal'. Gilbert has 27 previous convictions for 62 offences, but none relating to drug supply. His defence attorney, John Weate, told the court that Gilbert suffers from schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression and has been a long-time heroin addict. He had made progress in his recovery, becoming drug-free for two-and-a-half years before relapsing after Christmas 2023. He admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a sky blue Nike tracksuit top, he could be heard muttering 'go 'ed, go 'ed, go 'ed' as he was locked up for two years and six months
DRUG SUPPLY TRAFFICKING POLICE COURT SENTENCE ADDICTION MENTAL HEALTH
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