Guildford Crown Court Sentencing Results

Rory Newton was caught by police in Consort Way, Horley on 13 September 2018 getting out of a blue Mini. He refused to give his details, prompting a search of his vehicle. Police found cannabis, two bags of white powder suspected to be cocaine, a burner phone, and drug paraphernalia. Roadside drug tests confirmed he had been driving under the influence of cannabis. The phone revealed incriminating messages linked to drug dealing. He appeared at Guildford Crown Court on 13 May and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession of cannabis, and drug driving. He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

On 25 March, police spotted Ricky Dent driving suspiciously in Walton-on-Thames just after 3am. The vehicle had no insurance and an expired MOT. When stopped, Dent made excuses, couldn’t produce proof of buying the car that day, and officers smelled cannabis. A search found cash, scales, a knife, and a positive cocaine drug swipe. He was arrested, and later in custody, hidden cocaine and heroin were discovered in his clothes.

On October 18, 2016, Ricky Williams and Justin Bruney were stopped on Tattenham Way, Tadworth. A proactive patrol searched their Mercedes and uncovered a sock containing wraps of Class A drugs hidden behind an interior light fitting. Police also seized a large amount of cash. Phone analysis showed they were involved in drug dealing, and Williams was arrested alongside Bruney, who had been flaunting fake wealth on social media.

On April 4, Barry sped through Epsom at over 80mph in a black Vauxhall Astra, risking lives and forcing officers to call off the chase due to safety concerns. The next day, Op Viking officers spotted him acting suspiciously near shops on Greens Lane, and he was arrested after a brief pursuit. A search of his home uncovered two large knives, a stab vest, scales, multiple phones, and wraps of Class A and B drugs. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.

Simon Hopkins and Leon Passlow ran Digicam International Ltd in Bagshot, obtaining hundreds of domestic-use-only BSkyB cards using fake names and long addresses. These cards were sold to commercial premises including pubs, betting shops and yachts, defrauding BSkyB of monthly fees. The scam operated from January 2008 to September 2012. Investigation began in May 2012 following complaints to FAPL. Homes and company searched in September 2012, revealing £2m annual turnover.

Mason Dean, 24, of Oyster Lane, Byfleet, headed the 'Tarzan' drugs line distributing MDMA and cocaine across Surrey. Police arrested him on 31 January at his home, seizing 23.3g cocaine, 172 MDMA pills, 3g cannabis, and £1,400 in cash. A burner phone used for the drugs line was found with messages indicating large-scale drug dealing. He pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court to six offences: possession with intent to supply class A drugs, possession of cannabis, and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced on 2 March 2023 to three years and four months imprisonment.

Lee Cross, 54, originally from Romford, was at the centre of a criminal money-laundering network that targeted elderly victims across Surrey, Essex and London between February and September 2019. The network laundered £331,223 taken from victims through unnecessary home repair work. Cross provided banking infrastructure used to move and conceal criminal proceeds through numerous business accounts operating under different trading names, including “A-Z Repairs”.

Simon Hopkins and Leon Passlow ran Digicam International Ltd in Bagshot, obtaining hundreds of domestic-use-only BSkyB cards using fake names and long addresses. These cards were sold to commercial premises including pubs, betting shops and yachts, defrauding BSkyB of monthly fees. The scam operated from January 2008 to September 2012. Investigation began in May 2012 following complaints to FAPL. Homes and company searched in September 2012, revealing £2m annual turnover.

Whitney Thornton, 22, from Nottingham, attempted to smuggle 48.6 grams of cannabis into HMP Coldingley in Bisley on April 27, 2018. She concealed the drugs inside her bra during a prison visit. They were discovered during a routine search by prison staff. At Guildford Crown Court on July 5, she was sentenced for conveying drugs into the prison and for breaching previous orders.