St Leonards man jailed after sniffer dog finds 32 grams of cocaine under kitchen unit

A St Leonards man found with more than £4,000 of Class A drugs hidden in his home has been jailed after a sniffer dog picked up a scent of the drugs under his kitchen unit.
By Elliot Wright
Published 29th Jun 2022, 12:37 BST
Dean Payne, of Battle Road in St Leonards, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to supply of Class A and Class B drugs.Dean Payne, of Battle Road in St Leonards, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
Dean Payne, of Battle Road in St Leonards, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to supply of Class A and Class B drugs.

Dean Payne, of Battle Road in St Leonards, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to supply of Class A and Class B drugs, said police.

The drugs were found when officers searched the 38-year-old’s property as part of a separate investigation into drug dealing in the area.

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A police spokesperson said: “A sniffer dog picked up a scent beneath a kitchen unit, hidden under which was 32.8 grams of high-purity cocaine, 22.3 grams of high purity MDMA and 29.6 grams of herbal cannabis.

Scales, deal bags, cash and multiple mobile phones were also found in the property – all items commonly linked with the sale and distribution of drugs.Scales, deal bags, cash and multiple mobile phones were also found in the property – all items commonly linked with the sale and distribution of drugs.
Scales, deal bags, cash and multiple mobile phones were also found in the property – all items commonly linked with the sale and distribution of drugs.

“Scales, deal bags, cash and multiple mobile phones were also found in the property – all items commonly linked with the sale and distribution of drugs.”

The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £4,500.

Payne pleaded guilty to all charges and, at Lewes Crown Court on June 22, he was sentenced to a total of 32 months in prison, police said.

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Detective Constable David Brown, of Hastings’ Community Investigation Team, said: “The supply of illegal drugs brings huge amounts of harm and suffering to our communities.

The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £4,500.The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £4,500.
The drugs were estimated to have a street value of around £4,500.

“We are pleased that this conviction has taken a perpetrator and harmful substances off the streets, and alongside our partners we will continue to crack down on drug supply in the area and safeguard vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation.”