Wolverhampton 'drugs lab' dealer jailed for 18 years after £500k haul found stashed in house
A dealer who had more than £500,000 in his 'drugs laboratory' Wolverhampton home has been sentenced to 18 years in jail.
Jerome Nash, was found hiding in a cupboard at his home in Stanley Road, Bushbury, as armed police swooped in an early hours raid.
Drugs were found in almost every room of the 23-year-old's house when it was raided by armed police.
Cocaine, crack, heroin or cannabis was discovered in the dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, an en suite bathroom and the landing on May 27.
In the garage there was also a strongarm press with plates and components needed to produce 'bricks' of drugs.
Judge Nicholas Webb told Nash: "At a late stage, you pleaded guilty to a number of grave offences.
"It was absolutely clear that you played a very significant role in this operation.
"You were clearly very close to the source who imported these drugs into the country.
"It is appropriate that you spend a very long time in custody.
"You were found with not one but two firearms in your possession with ammunition that worked for one of them.
"You were the organiser and have a previous conviction."
Nash looked over to his family as the sentence was delivered and waved goodbye to them as he was taken down.
He was found hiding in a bedroom cupboard when a dozen officers, armed with rifles and side arms, broke down his front door with a two-man battering ram.
Minutes after the first raid, officers turned their attention to the home of Jerome's sister Simone Nash at Waterside, Parkfields where they discovered more than £64,000 cash in a safe and a bag that held a 9mm self loading pistol and five cartridges.
She told police she had not known that there were drugs in the Stanley Road house.
She was cleared of all charges as was friend Daniel Poplin, of Burton Crescent, Springfield, who was cleared of possession with intent to supply.
Nash's girlfriend Theresa Shaw, from Wayside, Pendeford, was also found not guilty of possession with intent at an earlier trial.
Nash admitted to two charges of possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and three charges of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and one of possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.
A proceeds of crime hearing was set for May 11 next year to see if he will be stripped of any assets.
After the hearing, Detective Constable Keith Jones, from Wolverhampton Police, said: "Through intelligence we were able to establish Nash was at the heart of a substantial drugs network.
"We were able to seize a large haul of Class A drugs and prevent them from being sold on our streets. We have all seen the misery that illegal substances can have in our communities.
"Any firearm in the wrong hands has the potential to cause harm and these weapons were undoubtedly linked to drugs crime.
"This sentence should send out a strong warning that dealers will be caught and then face a lengthy prison term."
