A drug dealing pair have been sentenced after they were caught with a stash of cocaine, ketamine, cannabis and amphetamine. Roberto Rossi, 37, of Hollingbourne Avenue, Bexleyheath, and Joanne Branscombe, 44, of Samson Close, Dartford, were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, July 23.
On February 24 this year, Rossi was spotted at Dartford station after he deliberately tried to evade uniformed British Transport Police (BTP) officers. When he was approached and asked about his behaviour, he admitted being in possession of cocaine.
A search revealed Rossi was also carrying an iPhone, which he denied was his. It had incoming messages asking for drugs. He also had more than £1,000 in cash.
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Rossi was arrested and a subsequent search of the address he shared with Branscombe uncovered a substantial amount of class A and class B drugs which resulted in Branscombe’s arrest. Rossi pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply a class B drug (ketamine and cannabis), one count of possession of a class A drug (cocaine) and one count of possession of a class B drug (amphetamine).
He was sentenced to 16 months in jail and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187. Branscombe pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs (cannabis and ketamine); possession of a class B drug (amphetamine) and possession of a class A drug (cocaine).
She was sentenced to 22 months, suspended for two years and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.
‘Blundering’ Rossi ‘fell foul of police and led them straight to his home’
Investigating officer DC Rob Chaplin said: “Anyone who uses the rail network to transport illicit drugs or engage in criminality of any kind, would do well to remember that we have eyes everywhere. Our expert officers are specialists in detecting all manner of suspicious activity.
“Blundering Rossi fell foul of this and led us straight to his home where it became clear he and his girlfriend were engaged in a drug dealing operation. Thanks to our County Lines taskforce these dangerous drugs are now off the rail network and off the streets. Our work to stop the trade in drugs via the railway is 24/7 and will never cease.”
