A key player in the wholesale supply of cocaine in Northampton has been jailed for nine years.
Christopher Peachment, aged 41, formerly of Selt Close, Long Buckby, was jailed for nine years at Northampton Crown Court yesterday for three charges of possession of Class C drugs with intent to supply and one charge of possession of Class A drugs with the intent to supply.
The career criminal, who has 91 previous convictions including a string of drugs and firearms offences, was found in possession of around £300,000 of drugs after police raided a basement flat in East Park Parade, Kingsley, on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.
Peachment was asleep in the flat at the time and denied being either the tenant or having knowledge of the drugs.
Officers discovered half a kilo of cocaine, as well as 18.5kg of cutting agents, and thousands of pills, all concealed in various locations, including a small brick room hidden behind a full-length mirror and skirting board.
Police also found a press and moulds.
They said Peachment acted as a “cutter and blocker”, cutting up the cocaine and mixing it with the Benzocaine to dilute the drug before pressing the powder back into a block form.
The cocaine blocks would then be sold to dealers to cut up and sell on the streets.
Judge Richard Bray yesterday “completely rejected” Peachment’s claim that he was working for a second man, Chris Clark, adding: “There is no credible evidence put before me that Chris Clark even existed.”
The court was told Peachment was jailed in June 2003 for possession of an enormous drugs haul, including £81,000 of cannabis, £20,000 of amphetamines, £8,000 of methandrone, £1,500 of cocaine and £1,900 of ecstasy.
He was subject to a confiscation order for £251,000 and is currently in prison for defaulting on payments.
Sentencing Peachment, Judge Bray said: “I have to sentence you for very serious drug dealing. I have already found you played a vital role in the supply of cocaine. There was also a very substantial amount of class C drugs.
“This is seriously aggravated by your record. You are a career criminal, and it is plain you have not been deterred by previous court sentences.”
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