Drug dealer caught after dropping phone fleeing police

A drug dealer who fled from officers in Newport was brought down by his own mobile phone after it slipped from his possession during the chase.

Lawrence Henson, 33, of Ringland Circle, Newport, was spotted by police riding an off-road motorbike with no number plates. He met up with two other individuals before the group scattered when officers approached.

The phone discovery

As the group ran, officers noticed a mobile phone had been left on the ground where they had been standing. Analysis of the device linked it to Henson, and messages stored on it revealed he had been operating a drug supply line dating back to November 2024. Evidence also showed he had been ordering services to his home address.

Henson was subsequently arrested at his partner’s home.

The search

On July 22 last year, police searched Henson’s home and discovered a significant drugs stash. Hidden inside a Nike bag in a tumble dryer within a locked garden shed, officers found a large quantity of heroin.

They also recovered £970 in cash, wraps of crack cocaine, additional heroin, a knife, weighing scales, and a cash counting machine.

In total, 1.894 kilograms of heroin was seized – estimated to be worth up to £141,600 – along with 1.3 grams of crack cocaine valued between £90 and £150.

Guilty pleas

Henson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, supplying cocaine, and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

Cardiff Crown Court heard he had 10 previous convictions for 18 offences, with the most recent in 2017 when he was imprisoned for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Mitigation

Prosecutor Alex Granville presented the case, and in mitigation, the court was told Henson had entered his guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

He was described as the primary carer for his brother, who was “completely immobile” and “completely dependent on others”. His time on remand since July had “significantly” affected his brother’s care.

The court also heard Henson had been undergoing regular drug tests in prison and had passed every one.

Sentence ⚖️

Recorder Andrew Hammond told Henson: “You expected to make a substantial financial gain from this.”

“You were, in reality, trading in human misery and suffering.”

“It is a vast problem.”

Henson was sentenced to seven years in prison.

An application under the Proceeds of Crime Act was made to recover the criminal profits he had earned. He is due to return to court on June 26.