Drug dealer arrested in his underpants jailed

A drug dealer who was arrested in his underwear after fleeing a police raid has been jailed.

Andre McGowan climbed out of a first-floor window in his pants as police executed a warrant at his home in Belconnen Road, Bestwood, Nottingham, in February 2023.

He was arrested on a nearby footpath, while his associate, Shabezz Wheeler-Spink, 30, was arrested after trying to flush £10,000 of drugs down the toilet.

McGowan, 36, was jailed for 12 years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.

The offenders were arrested as officers carried out a series of raids targeting an established drugs line, known as the "Vic Line", which was operating in the Nottingham area.

Nottinghamshire Police said detectives found the line was owned and serviced predominantly by McGowan, with Wheeler-Spink delivering drugs to customers at McGowan's instruction.

During the raid on McGowan's flat, officers found a phone linked to the drug gang.

Officers identified a bulk message saying "Morning!" which was sent to potential customers to let them know the line was taking sales.

Among the customers were people living in Woodthorpe, Bulwell and Forest Fields.

Another handset belonging to McGowan was analysed and found to contain a video showing what appeared to be 11 kilo blocks of cocaine and heroin.

Meanwhile, officers also raided a property in Norton Street, Radford, where Wheeler-Spink was found attempting to flush two plastic bags of heroin down his partner's upstairs toilet.

However the bags would not flush and caused the bathroom to flood.

Wheeler-Spink's involvement in the drugs enterprise spanned six months, whereas McGowan had been running it for six years, officers said.

Given his lesser involvement, Wheeler-Spink, of Fenton Road, Basford, Nottingham, was jailed for three years having pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Wheeler-Spink also admitted possession with intent to supply cannabis.

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