Selby man jailed after being found stashing heroin and crack cocaine in walls

A 50-year-old Selby man has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for being involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

A 50-year-old Selby man has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for being involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.

Jonathan Crosland from Cawood, Selby was remanded into custody after being found guilty at a hearing earlier this year. He appeared at York Crown Court today (Friday 29 October 2021) for sentencing.

A dedicated police operation to gather detailed evidence of Crosland’s activities was formed in early 2021 by York and Selby Intelligence Department.

Following weeks of investigation and intelligence gathering, on Wednesday 3 March 2021 officers witnessed Crosland travelling as a passenger in a 4x4 vehicle, visit a partially built building on his farmland in Selby. He was then seen to leave the building and visit what was suspected to be a ‘drop-point’ at the end of a track on the same farmland.

Taking the decision to make an arrest, officers attempted to stop the vehicle after Crosland left the site. However, the vehicle containing Crosland made off across nearby fields and failed to stop when instructed by the two police vehicles in pursuit.

Dash cam footage from one of the police vehicles captures the moment Crosland attempted to decamp and make off from police, down a stream. Officers soon caught up to him and detained him on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class A drugs. The driver of the 4x4 later pleaded guilty to failing to stop and was given a conditional discharge.

As part of the operation a Section 8 warrant was simultaneously executed at the farm where Crosland lived and the whole of the farm was searched including the partially built building which was suspected as being used as a ‘stash point’.

CCTV images capture searches carried out by officers which uncovered substantial quantities of heroin and crack cocaine found hidden in the cavity walls of the building. The total amount of drugs found amounted to 5kg for onward supply at a street level; this is believed to have a street value of £170,000 plus.

Speaking today, following Crosland’s sentencing Detective Inspector Michelle Falkingham of North Yorkshire Police who lead the investigation said:

“The prosecution of Crosland has disrupted and broken a major chain supplying class A drugs into Selby, York and beyond

“The movement and supply of drugs involves the exploitation of vulnerable people and Crosland was profiting from and living off the misery of others for his own gain.

“North Yorkshire Police is committed to identifying and dismantling organised criminals that supply drugs in our county and we will not rest until we have put the drug dealers behind them, behind bars.

“If you suspect that drug dealing is taking place in your community, please report it to us on 101 or via the North Yorkshire Police website. In the case of an emergency always dial 999. If you want to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers UK can be contacted on 0800 555 111 or visit their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org”

Detective Constable Darren May, the officer in charge of the investigation added 

“I hope this investigation and the sentence handed to Crosland today sends a clear message to those who think they can supply drugs into our communities with impunity. 

"North Yorkshire Police will not allow your criminal activities to go unchecked.  If you supply drugs; we will act and we will work tirelessly to disrupt your criminal networks to prevent harmful drugs from ever reaching our streets.”