Drug dealer jailed after texting police by mistake

A mug shot of a man with light brown hair wearing a black hooded top. He is looking away from the camera and has a short moustache and beard. Image source, Bedfordshire Police
Image caption,

Police say Jack Johannesen was part of an organised crime group operating across Biggleswade and Sandy supplying cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin

  • Published

A drug dealer who accidentally texted a police officer about his new drug line has been jailed.

Jack Johannesen, 23, of Stirling Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis - and one count of breaching bail conditions.

Bedfordshire Police said he was part of an organised crime croup (OCG) operating across Biggleswade and Sandy supplying cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin.

Det Con Adam Geary said it was vital the force continued "to work together and make our communities an inhospitable place for drug-dealers such as Johannesen".

He was handed two years and 10 months at a sentencing hearing at Luton Crown Court.

Mobile phones

On 25 October last year, officers executed a warrant at Johannesen's home address where he was arrested for being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.

Multiple mobile phones were seized from the property, including one found in the kitchen bin which he had attempted to smash up.

Messages downloaded from all devices showed more than 400 numbers were contacted about drugs available and costs.

Johannesen was bailed, but eight days later, used a newly registered phone to send a message with his new deal line.

However, he mistakenly sent the message to a police officer's work phone – one of the officers who had been at the initial warrant.

On 28 November, another warrant was executed at his address where he was further arrested for being concerned in the supply of class A and class B drugs.

A small amount of cannabis, high value designer items and nearly £2,000 in cash was seized.

On this occasion, Johannesen had also attempted to hide a mobile phone behind a wardrobe which was discovered when it started ringing during the search.

On Friday, Johannsen pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of cannabis and one count of breaching his bail conditions at Luton Crown Court.

He also denied - and was found not guilty - of a charge relating to the supply of cocaine.

Det Con Geary added: "Johannesen is now rightfully behind bars and we urge anyone with information about other drug-related crimes to come forward so we can continue to secure convictions against others who seek to cause harm."

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